Ice Tea Recipe
Make Ice Tea Recipe in just 1h 30m. Get the full recipe with step-by-step instructions at pekinthechef.com.
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Ingredients
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Tea Base
Sweetener (optional)
Finish & Serve
Method
Tea Base
- 1
Brew tea
Bring 8 cups of water to a rolling boil. Remove from heat and add 6 black tea bags (or 6 teaspoons loose-leaf in an infuser). Steep for 5 minutes for a standard strength or up to 8 minutes for a stronger brew. Do not oversteep more than 10 minutes to avoid bitterness.
- 2
Remove tea leaves
Remove the tea bags or strain out the leaves. Transfer the brewed tea to a heat-safe pitcher and let it cool slightly (5–10 minutes).
Sweetener (optional)
- 3
Make simple syrup (if sweetening)
If you want sweetened iced tea, combine 1 cup granulated sugar with 1 cup hot water in a heatproof measuring cup or small saucepan. Stir until the sugar fully dissolves to make a simple syrup. Let the syrup cool slightly before adding to the tea.
- 4
Sweeten tea
Stir the cooled simple syrup into the warm brewed tea a little at a time, tasting as you go. Use all the syrup for a fairly sweet tea, or reduce to 1/2 cup syrup for a lightly sweetened result.
Finish & Serve
- 5
Dilute and chill
Add 6 cups cold water to the pitcher of brewed tea to dilute to drinking strength (adjust if you prefer stronger or weaker). Stir in 1/2 cup freshly squeezed lemon juice. Chill the pitcher in the refrigerator for at least 1–2 hours, or until cold.
- 6
Prepare glasses
Fill individual serving glasses with ice cubes. Place a lemon slice and 2–3 mint leaves in each glass.
- 7
- 8
Storage
Store leftover iced tea in a covered pitcher in the refrigerator for up to 3–4 days. Stir before serving; add fresh lemon or ice as needed.