Iced Tea Recipe
Make Iced 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
Sweetening (optional)
Finish & Serve
Method
Brew Tea
Steep tea
Place 6 black tea bags (or equivalent loose-leaf in an infuser) into a heatproof pitcher. Pour the boiling water over the tea bags. Let steep for 5 to 7 minutes for a balanced-strength iced tea (6–8 minutes for stronger). Do not over-steep beyond 8 minutes to avoid excessive bitterness.
Remove tea bags
After steeping, gently lift and discard the tea bags (or remove the infuser). Do not squeeze the bags aggressively — this can release bitter tannins.
Sweeten (optional)
Sweeten with sugar
If using granulated sugar: dissolve 1 cup sugar in 1/4 cup hot water to make a quick syrup. Stir this into the hot brewed tea while it is still warm so it dissolves completely.
Or use simple syrup
If using pre-made simple syrup (recommended for cold drinks), stir 1 to 1 1/2 cups simple syrup into the brewed tea to taste. Start with 1 cup and adjust sweetness after chilling.
Chill & Finish
Cool to room temperature
Allow the sweetened or plain brewed tea to cool to room temperature (about 20–30 minutes).
Add lemon
Stir in 1/2 cup fresh lemon juice into the cooled tea. Taste and adjust: add more lemon if you prefer a brighter flavor.
Refrigerate
Place the pitcher in the refrigerator and chill for at least 1 hour until cold. For best flavor, chill 2–4 hours.
Notes on proportions
The recipe yields about 8 cups of iced tea. If you find the concentrate too strong after chilling, dilute with cold water to taste (up to 1–2 cups). If too weak, brew a stronger batch next time (use more tea bags or longer steep).