Original Ice Tea Recipe
Make Original Ice 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
Syrup & Sweetening
Citrus & Flavoring
To Serve
Method
Brew the Tea
Steep the tea
Place 6 black tea bags (or equivalent loose tea in an infuser) into a heatproof pitcher. Pour the hot water over the tea, cover the pitcher, and steep for 5 minutes for a balanced strength (6–7 minutes if you prefer a stronger brew). Avoid oversteeping more than 8 minutes to prevent bitterness.
After steeping, remove the tea bags or strain out the leaves. If using tea bags, gently press them against the side of the pitcher with a spoon to extract flavor, then discard.
Make Simple Syrup
Combine sugar and water
While the tea steeps (or immediately after), combine 100 g granulated sugar and 120 ml water in a small saucepan.
Heat the mixture over medium heat, stirring until the sugar fully dissolves and the liquid is clear. Do not boil vigorously; simmer only until dissolved (about 2–3 minutes). Remove from heat and let cool slightly. If using honey or another liquid sweetener instead, warm slightly to help it mix, or skip this step and dissolve the sweetener directly into warm tea.
Finish & Chill
While the syrup cools, add 60 ml fresh lemon juice to the warm (not boiling) brewed tea and stir.
Stir in the cooled simple syrup to the brewed tea. Taste and adjust sweetness: add up to the optional 2 tablespoons honey/agave if desired, or more syrup if you like it sweeter.
Pour in 600 ml cold water to dilute to serving strength and balance taste. Stir well to combine.
Allow the tea to cool to room temperature, then refrigerate until thoroughly chilled (at least 1 hour). For quicker chilling, place the pitcher in an ice bath or transfer to a shallow container to speed cooling.
Serve
Fill glasses with ice cubes (about 4 cups divided among servings). Pour chilled tea over the ice.
Garnish each glass with a lemon slice (cut from the remaining lemon) and a few fresh mint leaves if using. Stir before drinking.
Store any leftover iced tea covered in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. Stir or shake before serving if separation occurs.