Iced Tea Recipe

Boil water

Bring 8 cups of water to a rolling boil in a kettle or saucepan.

Steep the tea

Place 6 black tea bags in a heatproof pitcher. Pour the boiling water over the tea bags, pressing them gently so they are fully saturated. Let steep for 5 to 7 minutes for a standard-strength tea (7–10 minutes for stronger flavor).

Remove tea bags

Remove the tea bags, gently squeezing them against the side of the pitcher to extract flavor but avoid excessive bitterness. Discard the bags.

Make simple syrup (if using sugar)

If you want sweetened iced tea, combine 1 cup granulated sugar with 1/4 cup hot water in a small bowl or measuring cup. Stir until the sugar is completely dissolved, creating a simple syrup. (For honey or maple syrup, dissolve 1/2 cup in 2–3 tablespoons hot water instead and adjust to taste.)

Sweeten the tea

While the tea is still warm, stir in the prepared simple syrup until fully incorporated. Taste and add more if you prefer sweeter tea.

Dilute with cold water

Add 4 cups of cold water to the concentrated tea to bring it to serving strength and to cool it down.

Chill

Place the pitcher in the refrigerator and chill for at least 1 hour, or until cold. Alternatively, let it sit 20–30 minutes and pour over ice immediately for quicker serving (note: ice will dilute the tea).

Prepare garnish

Slice the lemon into rounds or wedges. Lightly clap the mint sprigs between your hands to release aroma.

Serve

Fill glasses with ice cubes. Pour chilled tea over the ice. Garnish each glass with a lemon slice and a mint sprig. Adjust sweetness or add a squeeze of fresh lemon juice to taste.