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Ingredients
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Tea Base
Sweetener (for sweetened option)
Finish & Serve
Method
Brew the Tea Concentrate
Place 6 black tea bags (or the loose-leaf equivalent, about 6 teaspoons) into a heatproof pitcher or large heatproof container.
Pour the boiling water over the tea bags so they are fully submerged. Let steep for 5 to 7 minutes for a standard-strength iced tea; steep 8 to 10 minutes for a stronger concentrate. Avoid steeping longer than 12 minutes to prevent excessive bitterness.
After steeping, remove and discard the tea bags (or strain out loose leaf). If you prefer less tannic flavor, press the bags gently against the side of the pitcher while removing to extract liquid but not squeeze out bitter compounds.
Sweetening (optional)
If making sweetened iced tea, make a simple syrup so the sugar dissolves completely. Place 1 cup granulated sugar and 1 cup hot water in a heatproof container and stir until the sugar is fully dissolved. Let cool slightly (a few minutes).
Stir the prepared simple syrup into the hot tea concentrate while the tea is still warm so it blends evenly. Taste and adjust: use all the syrup for fairly sweet tea, or add only part (start with 1/2 cup) if you prefer less sweet. Alternatively, for a lighter sweetness, dissolve 1/2 cup sugar in 1/2 cup hot water and add as desired.
Dilute, Chill, and Serve
Add 6 cups of cold water to the tea concentrate (and sweetener if used) to dilute to drinking strength. Stir to combine. This yields about 12 cups (96 fl oz) of iced tea.
Place the pitcher in the refrigerator and chill for at least 1 hour, or until cold. For faster cooling, pour over a large jug of ice and stir, but be aware this will water the tea; using chilled water is preferable.
For unsweetened option: skip the sweetening step and follow the dilution and chilling steps. For lightly sweetened option: add less of the simple syrup to taste before chilling.