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Ingredients
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Tea Base
Sweetener (optional)
Finish & Service
Method
Brew Tea
- 1
Bring water to a boil
Bring 12 cups of fresh water to a full rolling boil in a kettle or on the stovetop.
- 2
Steep tea
Place 6 black tea bags (or the equivalent 2 tablespoons loose-leaf tea in an infuser) into a large heatproof pitcher or pot. Pour the 12 cups of boiling water over the tea, fully submerging the bags/infuser. Cover and let steep for 4 to 6 minutes for a full-bodied iced tea. For a slightly milder flavor, steep 3 to 4 minutes; for stronger tea, steep up to 7 minutes. Avoid exceeding 8 minutes to prevent excessive bitterness.
- 3
Remove tea bags
After steeping, remove the tea bags or strain out loose leaves. Gently press the tea bags against the side of the pitcher with a spoon to extract remaining liquid, but do not squeeze aggressively (to avoid bitterness).
- 4
Cool to room temperature
Allow the brewed tea to cool at room temperature for about 20 to 30 minutes before refrigerating. This prevents cloudy tea and reduces the risk of melting too much ice when served.
Sweetening (Optional Hot Syrup Method)
- 5
Make simple syrup
If you want sweetened iced tea, combine 3/4 cup granulated sugar with 1/4 cup hot water in a heatproof measuring cup or small saucepan. Stir until the sugar fully dissolves to make a simple syrup. Let the syrup cool slightly (a few minutes).
- 6
Sweeten the tea
Stir the prepared simple syrup into the warm tea to distribute sweetness evenly. Taste and adjust: add more syrup or sugar dissolved in a little hot water if a sweeter result is desired.
Chill & Serve
- 7
Refrigerate
Cover the pitcher and place the tea in the refrigerator until thoroughly chilled, at least 1 to 2 hours. For fastest service (refill), you can also cool by adding ice directly to the pitcher but be aware this will dilute the tea; use chilled brewed tea if dilution is a concern.
- 8
Prepare glasses
Fill individual serving glasses with ice (about 1 cup of ice per 8–12 oz glass). Add a lemon slice and/or mint sprig if using.
- 9
Serve
Pour the chilled iced tea over ice in each glass. Garnish with a lemon slice and a mint sprig if desired. Offer additional simple syrup, sugar, lemon, and ice on the side for refills and personal adjustment.
- 10
Storage
Store leftover brewed tea in a covered pitcher in the refrigerator for up to 3 to 4 days. If sweetened, label accordingly. Do not leave at room temperature for more than 2 hours.
