Iced Tea Recipe

Bring water to a simmer

In a medium saucepan or kettle, bring 1.5 liters of fresh water to a near-boil (about 95°C / just below boiling).

Steep the tea

Place 6 black tea bags (or an equivalent amount of loose-leaf tea in an infuser; about 8–10 g) into a heatproof pitcher. Pour the hot water over the tea, making sure tea is fully saturated. Let steep for 5 minutes for a robust flavor or up to 7 minutes for stronger tea. Avoid steeping longer than 8 minutes to prevent bitterness.

Remove tea bags

Remove tea bags or infuser and gently press with the back of a spoon to extract remaining brewed liquid (do not squeeze tea bags aggressively to avoid bitter tannins).

Make simple syrup

If you want sweetened iced tea, combine 0.5 cup granulated sugar and 0.5 cup water in a small saucepan. Heat over medium, stirring until the sugar dissolves and the mixture is clear. Remove from heat and let cool slightly. (Simple syrup mixes into cold tea more easily than dry sugar.)

Sweeten while warm

Stir syrup into hot tea

If you prefer unsweetened tea, skip the syrup. Alternatively, substitute equal parts honey, agave, or other sweetener dissolved into warmed water.

Dilute and cool

Add 1 liter of cold water to the brewed tea (and the simple syrup if using) to dilute to drinking strength. Stir to combine. This yields a balanced flavor and room for ice. Taste and adjust: add more cold water for a lighter brew or more syrup for extra sweetness.

Chill

Place the pitcher in the refrigerator and chill until cold, about 1–2 hours. For faster cooling, transfer the tea to a shallow container to increase surface area or add a handful of ice cubes (note: adding a lot of ice will dilute the tea).

Prepare glasses

Fill serving glasses with ice cubes (about 1 cup ice per glass). Add a few fresh mint leaves and a slice or wedge of lemon to each glass if desired.

Serve

Pour the chilled tea over the ice in each glass. Garnish with a lemon slice on the rim and a sprig of mint. Serve immediately.

Storage

Store leftover iced tea covered in the refrigerator for up to 4 days. Stir or shake before serving as natural separation may occur. If stored sweetened, it will keep for the same duration.