Unsweetened Iced Tea Recipe
Make Unsweetened Iced Tea Recipe in just 1h . Get the full recipe with step-by-step instructions at pekinthechef.com.
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Ingredients
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Tea
Cooling & Serving
Method
Tea
Steep tea
Place 6 black tea bags (or the equivalent loose-leaf tea in an infuser) into a heatproof pitcher. Pour the 8 cups of boiling water over the tea. Cover the pitcher and let the tea steep for 5 to 7 minutes for a standard-strength unsweetened iced tea; steep up to 10 minutes for a stronger brew. Avoid oversteeping beyond 10 minutes to prevent excessive bitterness.
Remove tea bags
Carefully remove and discard the tea bags (or strain out loose leaves) after the desired steep time. Do not squeeze tea bags hard, as that can add bitterness.
Cooling & Serving
Dilute and cool
Add 2 cups of cold water to the concentrated hot tea to bring it to drinking strength and lower the temperature. Stir gently to combine.
Chill
Allow the tea to come to room temperature, then refrigerate uncovered until cold, about 30 to 45 minutes. For faster cooling, set the pitcher in an ice bath (a larger bowl filled with ice and a little water) and stir occasionally until cool, about 10β15 minutes.
Storage
Store any leftover iced tea in a covered container in the refrigerator for up to 3 to 5 days. Stir or taste before serving; dilute with a little cold water if it has concentrated as it cooled.