Iced Tea Recipe

Time1h

Serves6

Make Iced Tea Recipe in just 1h . Get the full recipe with step-by-step instructions at pekinthechef.com.

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Ingredients

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1
Bring water to a boil
Pour 8 cups (about 1.9 liters) of cold water into a saucepan or kettle and bring to a rolling boil over high heat.
2
Steep the tea
Remove the water from heat and add 6 black tea bags (or the equivalent loose-leaf amount: about 12–15 g). Let the tea steep for 5 minutes for a standard-strength iced tea or 7–8 minutes for a stronger brew. Do not oversteep more than 10 minutes to avoid excessive bitterness.
3
Cool and strain
Remove tea bags (or strain out loose leaves) and allow the brewed tea to cool for 10–15 minutes at room temperature before proceeding. If you prefer a clearer tea, strain through a fine mesh into a pitcher.

4
Make simple syrup
In a small saucepan combine 1 cup sugar and 1 cup water. Heat over medium, stirring frequently until the sugar fully dissolves and the syrup is clear (about 3–5 minutes). Do not boil vigorously. Remove from heat and let cool to room temperature. Store leftover syrup refrigerated in a sealed container for up to 2 weeks.

5
Sweeten and chill
Taste the cooled tea. If you want sweetened iced tea, stir in 2–4 tablespoons of the cooled simple syrup (or honey/agave) per pitcher, adjusting to taste. Add 2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice and stir to combine.
6
Refrigerate
Refrigerate the pitcher for at least 30 minutes to 1 hour to become thoroughly chilled. If you need iced tea quickly, fill a large pitcher halfway with ice and pour the warm-but-not-hot tea over the ice (this will rapidly chill it but slightly dilute the tea).
7
Serve
Fill glasses with 1 large ice cube or a handful of ice. Pour iced tea over the ice. Garnish each glass with a lemon slice and a sprig of mint. Stir briefly and serve immediately.
8
Adjustments & Notes
For fruit-flavored variations, substitute some of the brewed tea with brewed herbal tea (e.g., peach or hibiscus) or add muddled fruit (peach slices, berries) to the pitcher and let steep in the refrigerator for 30–60 minutes. For stronger tea with less dilution, use concentrated brew (double-strength) and dilute to taste with cold water or ice.