Iced Tea Recipe

Time1h 20m

Serves6

Make Iced Tea Recipe in just 1h 20m. Get the full recipe with step-by-step instructions at pekinthechef.com.

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Ingredients

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1
Bring water to a boil
Pour 8 cups of cold water into a kettle or large saucepan and bring to a rolling boil over high heat.
2
Steep the tea
Remove the water from heat. Add 4 tablespoons of loose black tea (or 4 standard tea bags). If using, add 2 lemon slices to the hot water for a mild citrus note. Cover and steep for 4 to 6 minutes for a full-flavored iced tea; steep 3 to 4 minutes for a lighter flavor. Do not over-steep more than 7 minutes to avoid bitterness.
3
Strain
After steeping, remove tea bags or strain out loose tea leaves and the lemon slices. Transfer the hot tea to a heatproof pitcher to cool slightly.

4
Dissolve sugar
If you want sweetened iced tea, combine 1 tablespoon granulated sugar with 2 tablespoons hot water in a small cup and stir until fully dissolved to create a simple syrup-like solution. Stir the dissolved sugar into the hot tea so it blends evenly. (Adjust amount of sugar to taste; for more sweetness use up to 1/4 cup sugar dissolved in 1/4 cup hot water.)

5
Add lemon juice
Once the tea has cooled for 10–15 minutes (still warm but not hot), stir in 2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice. This brightens flavor; omit if not desired.
6
Chill
Refrigerate the pitcher for at least 1 hour until thoroughly chilled. For a quicker option, fill a large pitcher most of the way with ice and pour the warm tea over the ice to rapidly cool it (this will dilute slightly).
7
Serve
Fill tall glasses with ice cubes (about 1/2 cup ice per glass). Pour chilled tea over the ice. Garnish each glass with a lemon slice and a sprig of fresh mint if using. Taste and adjust sweetness or lemon if needed.
8
Storage
Store leftover iced tea covered in the refrigerator for up to 3–4 days. Stir before serving as separation can occur.