Coke, Diet Coke, Iced Tea Lemonade Recipe

Serve chilled

Fill a 12‑oz glass with 1 cup (about 8 fl oz) of ice cubes. Pour 1 cup of chilled Coca‑Cola (or Diet Coca‑Cola) over the ice. Garnish with a lemon wedge if desired. Serve immediately with a straw.

Brew or use chilled tea

If you have pre‑brewed chilled tea, use 1 cup. If not, brew strong black tea: steep 1 tea bag (or 1 tsp loose leaf) in 1 cup of just‑boiled water for 4–5 minutes, then cool quickly by placing in the fridge or an ice bath until chilled (about 15–20 minutes).

Combine ingredients

Fill a 12‑oz glass with 1 cup ice. Pour 1 cup chilled brewed black tea into the glass. Add 2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice and 1 tablespoon simple syrup (taste and adjust: add more syrup for sweeter lemonade tea). Stir well to combine.

Garnish and serve

Garnish with a lemon slice. Serve cold with a straw.

Brew tea

Bring 8 cups of water to a boil. Remove from heat and add 8 tsp loose black tea or 8 tea bags. Steep for 5 minutes, then remove tea leaves/bags. Allow the tea to cool to room temperature, then chill in the refrigerator until cold (about 1–2 hours).

Make simple syrup (if not using prepared)

Combine 1 cup sugar and 1 cup water in a small saucepan. Heat over medium, stirring until sugar dissolves. Bring to a gentle simmer for 1 minute, then remove from heat and cool. Refrigerate until cold.

Mix batch

In a pitcher, combine the chilled brewed tea, 1 cup fresh lemon juice, and 1 cup simple syrup. Stir to combine. Taste and adjust sweetness or lemon to preference (add up to 1/2 cup more syrup or 1/2 cup more lemon if desired).

Serve

To serve, fill glasses with ice and pour 1 cup of the tea lemonade per serving. Garnish each glass with a lemon slice.

Combine 1 cup sugar and 1 cup water in a small saucepan. Heat over medium heat, stirring until sugar fully dissolves. Once the mixture is clear and slightly thickened, remove from heat and cool to room temperature. Transfer to a sealed container and refrigerate for up to 2 weeks.