Iced Tea Recipe

Time1h 30m

Serves8

Make Iced 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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1
Boil water and steep
Bring 8 cups of water to a full rolling boil. Remove from heat and add 6 black tea bags (or equivalent loose-leaf tea in an infuser). Cover the pot or container and steep for 5 to 7 minutes for a standard-strength iced tea, or 8 to 10 minutes for a stronger brew. Avoid steeping more than 10 minutes to limit bitterness.
2
Remove tea bags
After steeping, remove the tea bags (or strain out loose leaf). Gently press tea bags against the side of the pot with a spoon for one second if you want a bit more body — avoid squeezing hard to prevent excess bitterness.

3
Make simple syrup-style dissolve
If using sugar, combine 3 tablespoons granulated sugar with 2 tablespoons hot water in a small cup. Stir until sugar is completely dissolved. For less sweetness, reduce sugar to 1–2 tbs; for more, increase to taste. You can substitute equal-volume simple syrup or honey (note: honey changes flavor).
4
Incorporate sweetener
Stir the dissolved sugar into the hot tea so it blends completely. Doing this while tea is still warm ensures even sweetness without grit.

5
Dilute and chill
Add 4 cups of cold water to the hot tea to bring it to serving volume and temperature balance. Transfer the tea to a heatproof pitcher and let it cool at room temperature for 20–30 minutes, then refrigerate until very cold (about 1 hour).
6
Serve
Fill glasses with ice (about 1 cup per glass). Pour chilled tea over ice. Garnish with lemon slices and mint leaves if desired. Adjust sweetness by adding more simple syrup or a squeeze of lemon to taste.