Unsweetened Ice Tea Recipe
Make Unsweetened Ice Tea Recipe in just 2h . Get the full recipe with step-by-step instructions at pekinthechef.com.
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Ingredients
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Tea Base
Cold Dilution & Serving
Method
Tea Base
Steep tea
Place 6 black tea bags (or equivalent loose-leaf tea in an infuser) into a heatproof pitcher or container. Pour the boiling water over the tea so the bags are fully submerged. Steep for 5 minutes for a clear-but-flavorful brew or up to 7 minutes for a stronger brew. Do not over-steep beyond 7 minutes to avoid excessive bitterness.
Remove tea bags
After steeping, remove the tea bags (or strain out the leaves). Gently press the tea bags against the side with a spoon if you want a touch more extraction, but avoid squeezing them hard to minimize bitterness.
Cool to room temperature
Let the brewed tea sit at room temperature for 20–30 minutes, uncovered, until it stops giving off steam and is warm but not hot. This helps prevent melting too much ice and diluting flavor when chilled quickly.
Cold Dilution & Serving
Combine with cold water
Pour the cooled brewed tea into a 3-liter (or larger) pitcher. Add 1.5 liters of cold water to the pitcher to bring the tea to an appropriate strength for iced tea. Taste and adjust: if it’s too weak, add a little more brewed concentrate (make separately) or reduce dilution next time; if too strong, add extra cold water.
Chill
Place the pitcher in the refrigerator and chill for at least 1 hour. For best flavor, chill 2–4 hours until thoroughly cold.
Storage
Keep leftover unsweetened iced tea covered in the refrigerator for up to 3–4 days. Stir before serving. Do not leave at room temperature for more than 2 hours.