Gold Peak Tea Recipe

Bring water to a boil

Pour 8 cups of cold water into a medium-large saucepan or kettle. Bring the water to a rolling boil over high heat.

Steep the tea

Remove the water from heat. Add 6 black tea bags to the hot water, pressing the bags gently against the pot so they are submerged. Cover and steep for 5 minutes for a balanced strength (steep 7 minutes for a stronger, more robust flavor).

Sweeten while hot

Remove and discard the tea bags, squeezing gently against the side of the pot to extract liquid if desired. While the tea is still hot, add 1 cup granulated sugar and stir until fully dissolved. Stir in 1 teaspoon vanilla extract and 2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice to emulate Gold Peak's faint citrus/vanilla note. Taste and adjust sweetness or lemon as desired.

Cool to room temperature: Let the sweetened tea sit uncovered or lightly covered until it reaches room temperature, about 20–30 minutes.

Chill: Transfer the tea to a pitcher if necessary and refrigerate until cold, at least 2 hours. For quicker chilling, place the pot or pitcher in an ice bath and stir until cool, then refrigerate for 30–45 minutes.

Serve over ice: Fill glasses with ice (about 1 cup per 12-ounce glass). Pour chilled tea over ice. Garnish each glass with a lemon slice and a sprig of fresh mint if using. Stir before drinking.

Storage: Store leftovers covered in the refrigerator for up to 4–5 days. Stir or shake before serving; add ice as needed.