Jul 14 2026
RestaurantsThe ArmsIced Black Tea Recipe

Iced Black Tea Recipe

Inspired by The Arms
Time1h 30m
Serves4

Make Iced Black 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

Sweetener (optional)

Finish & Serve

Method

Tea Base

  1. 1

    Bring water to a boil

    Pour 4 cups of fresh cold water into a kettle or saucepan and bring to a rolling boil over medium-high heat.

  2. 2

    Steep the tea

    Remove from heat. Add 8 tsp loose leaf black tea and/or 4 black tea bags to the hot water. Cover and steep for 4 to 5 minutes for a full-bodied brew (3 minutes for lighter flavor).

  3. 3

    Strain

    If using loose leaf tea, strain the tea through a fine mesh strainer into a heatproof pitcher to remove leaves. If using tea bags, simply remove and gently squeeze out liquid back into the pitcher.

  4. 4

    Cool to room temperature

    Let the brewed tea rest at room temperature for 15 to 20 minutes to cool slightly before refrigeration. This prevents cloudiness from rapid cooling.

  5. 5

    Chill

    Refrigerate the pitcher until the tea is cold, about 30 to 60 minutes. For faster chill, place the covered pitcher in an ice bath.

Sweetener (optional)

  1. 6

    Sweeten while warm

    If using granulated sugar or honey, dissolve 1 tablespoon sugar or 1 tablespoon honey into about 2 to 3 tablespoons of the hot brewed tea before chilling. Stir until fully dissolved. Alternatively, add 2 tbsp simple syrup directly to chilled tea and stir to combine.

Finish & Serve

  1. 7

    Prepare glasses

    Fill 4 tall glasses with ice (about 1 cup ice per glass). Add 1 lemon slice and 2 mint leaves to each glass for aroma and garnish.

  2. 8

    Assemble iced tea

    Pour chilled tea over the ice, dividing evenly among the 4 glasses. Taste and adjust sweetness with extra simple syrup if desired (about 1 tsp per glass).

  3. 9

    Garnish and serve

    Garnish each glass with an additional lemon slice or a small sprig of mint. Serve immediately with a straw or stirrer.

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