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
Bring 8 cups of water to a rolling boil in a kettle or large saucepan.
2
Brew the tea
Place 6 black tea bags in a heatproof pitcher. Pour the boiling water over the tea bags, submerging them fully. Let steep for 5 to 7 minutes for a standard strength; steep 8 to 10 minutes for a stronger brew. Avoid steeping longer than 10 minutes to prevent excessive bitterness.
3
Remove tea bags
Using a spoon, remove the tea bags and gently press them against the pitcher side to extract flavor, then discard the bags. If using loose leaf, strain the tea through a fine mesh into a clean pitcher.

4
Make simple syrup (if using granulated sugar)
If you want sweetened iced tea, combine 1 cup granulated sugar with 1/4 cup hot water in a heatproof measuring cup or small saucepan. Stir until the sugar is completely dissolved to form a syrup. Let cool slightly.
5
Sweeten the tea
Stir the prepared simple syrup into the hot-brewed tea while it is still warm so it incorporates evenly. Taste and add more syrup as desired for sweetness. If you prefer a lighter sweetness, start with half the syrup and adjust after chilling.

6
Dilute and cool
Add 4 cups of cold water to the brewed tea (this brings the strength down to the typical iced tea concentration). Stir well. Place the pitcher in the refrigerator and chill until cold, about 1 to 2 hours. For faster cooling, fill a large bowl with ice, set the pitcher in the bowl, and stir occasionally until cool.
7
Add lemon and ice
When the tea is chilled, stir in 1/2 cup freshly squeezed lemon juice. Fill glasses with ice (about 1 cup ice per 8-12 oz glass) and pour the iced tea over the ice.
8
Garnish and serve
Garnish each glass with a sprig of fresh mint if desired and a lemon slice. Serve immediately. Leftover tea will keep covered in the refrigerator for up to 4 days.