Unsweet Tea Recipe
Make Unsweet Tea Recipe in just 1h 30m. Get the full recipe with step-by-step instructions at pekinthechef.com.
Was this page helpful?
Help improve this recipe for others.
Send this recipe to your inbox.
We'll email it straight to you - plus weekly cooking inspiration.
Ingredients
Some product links may be affiliates. If you buy through them, you're supporting the site and Pekin may earn a commission at no extra cost to you.
Tea
Method
Tea
Steep tea
Place 4 black tea bags (or the equivalent of 4 tablespoons loose-leaf tea in a tea infuser) into a heatproof pitcher or heat-resistant container. Pour the boiling water directly over the tea. Cover and steep for 5 minutes for standard strength. For a slightly stronger flavor, steep 6–7 minutes; for milder, 3–4 minutes. Avoid steeping longer than 8 minutes to prevent excessive bitterness.
Remove tea bags / leaves
After steeping, remove the tea bags or lift out the infuser and gently press against the side of the pitcher to extract some flavor (do not squeeze hard if using tea bags to avoid bitterness). Discard used tea bags or leaves.
Cool and dilute
Add 2 cups cold water to the concentrated hot tea to reach drinking strength and help it cool more quickly. Stir gently to combine.
Chill
Allow the tea to come closer to room temperature (20–30 minutes), then refrigerate uncovered until fully chilled, about 1–2 hours. If you need it immediately, pour the tea over a pitcher filled with ice to chill quickly; account for meltwater by using extra-strength concentrate if doing this.
Storage
Store leftover chilled unsweet tea covered in the refrigerator for up to 3–4 days. Re-stir before serving; discard if off-smelling or cloudy.