Iced Tea Recipe

Bring water to a boil

Pour 8 cups water into a kettle or large saucepan and bring to a rolling boil over high heat.

Steep tea

Remove from heat. Add 6 black tea bags to the hot water. Cover and steep for 5 minutes for a balanced strength (steep up to 8 minutes for stronger flavor).

Sweeten while hot

Remove the tea bags, pressing gently against the side with a spoon to extract liquid but not to over-bitter the tea. While the tea is still hot, stir in 3 tablespoons granulated sugar until fully dissolved. Taste and adjust sweetness if desired.

Cool and add lemon

Stir in 2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice. Let the tea come toward room temperature (about 15–20 minutes), then transfer to the refrigerator and chill until cold, about 1 hour.

Fill a pitcher or individual glasses with ice (use about 4 cups total for serving a pitcher or 1 cup per glass). Pour the chilled tea over the ice.

Garnish each glass or the pitcher with lemon slices and a sprig of fresh mint. Serve immediately. If you prefer less dilution, pour tea into glasses first and add ice to taste.

Storage: keep leftover iced tea covered in the refrigerator for up to 3–4 days. Stir or re-chill before serving.