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Ingredients
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Tea Base
Sweetening
Finish & Serve
Method
Tea Base
- 1
- 2
Steep tea
Remove from heat. Add 6 black tea bags to the hot water, gently pressing them once against the side to submerge. Cover the pot and let the tea steep for 5 to 7 minutes for strong flavor (5 minutes for a lighter brew, 7 minutes for a bolder flavor).
- 3
Remove tea bags
After steeping, remove the tea bags without squeezing them (to avoid bitterness).
Sweetening
- 4
Make simple syrup-style sweetener
In a small heatproof measuring cup or bowl, combine 1/4 cup hot water with 1 cup granulated sugar. Stir until the sugar is completely dissolved to make a concentrated simple syrup. This allows the sugar to blend smoothly into cold tea.
- 5
Combine sweetener with tea
While the brewed tea is still warm (but not boiling), stir the dissolved sugar syrup into the tea thoroughly so it integrates evenly.
Finish & Serve
- 6
Cool the tea
Let the sweetened tea cool to room temperature (about 20 to 30 minutes). For faster cooling, place the pot in an ice bath or transfer to a shallow container.
- 7
Chill and serve
Pour the cooled tea into a pitcher filled with 3 cups of ice. Add lemon slices and mint sprigs if using. Stir gently. Refrigerate for at least 30 minutes if you prefer it thoroughly chilled before serving.
- 8
