Fresh Brewed Iced Tea Recipe

Time2h 30m

Serves8

Golden Peak Sweet or Unsweetened Iced Tea.

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Ingredients

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1
Bring water to a boil
Pour 8 cups of fresh, cold water into a kettle or large saucepan and bring to a rolling boil over high heat.
2
Steep tea
Remove the pot from heat. Add 6 black tea bags to the hot water. Cover and steep for 5 minutes for a bright, golden brew; steep up to 7 minutes for a stronger flavor. Avoid steeping longer than 8 minutes to prevent bitter tannins.
3
Remove tea bags and cool
Remove and discard the tea bags, gently pressing each against the side of the pot with a spoon to release concentrated flavor (do not squeeze too hard to avoid bitterness). Let the brewed tea cool until warm (about 15–20 minutes) before proceeding.

4
Make simple syrup
While the tea cools, combine 1 cup granulated sugar and 1 cup water in a small saucepan. Warm over medium heat, stirring until the sugar fully dissolves and the liquid is clear. Remove from heat and let cool slightly. This yields a pourable syrup that blends smoothly into cold tea.
5
Sweeten brewed tea
If making sweetened iced tea, stir the cooled simple syrup into the warm (not hot) brewed tea. Start with the full cup if you want Golden Peak–style sweetness; you can adjust by adding more cold water later if desired. Stir thoroughly to combine.

6
Dilute and chill
Transfer the brewed (and sweetened, if desired) tea to a pitcher. Add up to 6 cups cold water to reach desired strength and volume — use less if you prefer a stronger concentrate. Stir and refrigerate until well chilled, at least 1–2 hours.
7
Serve over ice
Fill glasses with ice (about 1 cup per 8 oz serving). Pour chilled tea over the ice. Garnish each glass with a lemon slice if using. Offer additional simple syrup at the table for guests who want it sweeter.
8
Storage
Store any leftover iced tea in a covered pitcher in the refrigerator for up to 3–4 days. If separated, stir before serving. Discard if it develops off-odors or cloudiness.