Iced Mint Green Tea Recipe

Bring water to near-boil

In a kettle or saucepan, bring 4 cups of water to just under a rolling boil (about 175–185°F / 80–85°C). If you don’t have a thermometer, bring it to a simmer and let sit 30 seconds.

Steep green tea

Place 3 tsp loose green tea (or 3 tea bags) into a heatproof pitcher or teapot. Pour the hot water over the tea leaves. Steep for 2–3 minutes for a bright, not-bitter flavor. Avoid steeping longer to prevent astringency.

Discard leaves

Remove the tea bags or strain out the loose leaves promptly and discard.

Muddle mint with sweetener

In a small bowl or the bottom of a heatproof measuring cup, combine 1 cup packed fresh mint leaves and 3 tablespoons sugar (and 1 tablespoon honey if using). Lightly muddle with a spoon or muddler just enough to bruise the leaves and release oils; don’t pulverize. If you prefer no granulated sugar, dissolve honey into warm tea in the next step instead.

Infuse mint into hot tea

While the tea is still warm (but no longer boiling), add the muddled mint and sugar mixture to the hot tea in the pitcher. Stir gently until the sugar dissolves. Let steep 5–10 minutes, tasting after 5 minutes to reach desired mint intensity. For a stronger mint note, steep longer (up to 15 minutes).

Strain mint

Strain out the mint leaves and any undissolved sugar from the tea using a fine mesh strainer. Press gently on the mint with the back of a spoon to extract remaining flavored liquid, then discard solids.

Cool and dilute

Add 2 cups cold water to the concentrated tea to bring the mixture to room temperature and reduce strength. Stir to combine.

Chill

Place the pitcher in the refrigerator for at least 30 minutes to chill. For faster service, fill a serving pitcher halfway with ice and pour the tea over the ice to cool quickly (note: this will dilute slightly as ice melts).

Prepare glasses

Fill four glasses with ice (about 1/2 cup per glass or as desired). Optionally add a lemon slice to each glass.

Serve

Pour the chilled mint green tea over the prepared glasses of ice, dividing evenly. Garnish each glass with a fresh mint sprig and a lemon slice if using. Stir briefly and taste; adjust sweetness by stirring in additional honey or sugar to taste.

Storage

Store leftover iced mint green tea covered in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. Keep garnishes separate and add fresh ice and mint when serving again.