Gallon Of Unsweet Tea Recipe

Boil water

Bring 3.8 liters of fresh cold water to a rolling boil in a large kettle or pot.

Steep tea

Remove the kettle from heat. Add 8 black tea bags to the hot water. Cover and steep for 5 minutes for a medium-strength brew (increase to 7 minutes for stronger, 3–4 minutes for lighter). Avoid over-steeping more than 8 minutes to prevent bitterness.

Remove tea bags

Use a slotted spoon or tongs to remove the tea bags. If you prefer a stronger cup, gently press each bag against the side of the pot once to extract extra flavor, but do not squeeze repeatedly (this can add bitterness).

Cool to room temperature

Let the brewed tea sit, uncovered, until it cools to room temperature (about 20–30 minutes). Stir once or twice to release steam and speed cooling.

Chill and serve

Transfer the cooled tea into a clean 1-gallon (3.8 L) pitcher or container. Refrigerate until thoroughly chilled, at least 2 hours. When ready to serve, fill glasses with ice (about 1/2 cup per 8–12 oz glass) and pour the chilled tea over the ice.

Garnish (optional)

Add lemon slices and a mint sprig to each glass if desired. Serve immediately and keep any leftover tea refrigerated for up to 3–4 days.