Cup Of Joy Black Iced Tea 16 Oz Recipe
Make Cup Of Joy Black Iced Tea 16 Oz Recipe in just 25m. Get the full recipe with step-by-step instructions at pekinthechef.com.
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Ingredients
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Tea Base
Sweetener (adjust to taste)
Finish & Service
Method
Steep the Tea
Boil water
Bring 12 fl oz (about 355 ml) of fresh water to a rolling boil (approx. 205–212°F / 96–100°C).
Steep
Place 2 black tea bags into a heatproof pitcher or container. Pour the boiling water over the tea bags. Steep 5 minutes for a brisk, full-bodied flavor; steep up to 6 minutes for stronger tea. Avoid steeping longer than 6 minutes to prevent excessive bitterness.
After steeping, remove and discard the tea bags, gently pressing them against the side of the pitcher with a spoon for a second to extract any remaining liquid (do not squeeze vigorously to avoid bitterness).
Sweeten & Cool
While the tea is still hot (but not boiling), stir in 1.5 fl oz simple syrup until fully dissolved. Taste and adjust: for less sweetness use 1 fl oz, for sweeter tea use 2 fl oz.
Allow the sweetened tea to cool at room temperature for 10–15 minutes, or place the pitcher in an ice bath to cool more quickly for 5–7 minutes. Do not add ice yet (to avoid dilution).
Assemble the Cup of Joy Black Iced Tea
Fill a 16‑oz serving glass with 1 cup of ice cubes (or enough to leave space for tea).
Pour 4 fl oz cold water into the cooled tea to bring the total volume to 16 fl oz (this also slightly lightens and balances the concentration). Then pour the cooled, sweetened tea over the ice until the glass is filled. If you cooled the tea in a pitcher, give it a gentle stir before pouring to ensure even sweetness.
Garnish with an optional lemon wedge and a mint sprig. Serve with a straw or stirring spoon.
Notes & Variations
To make flavored variations: add a splash (0.25–0.5 fl oz) of fruit syrup (peach, raspberry) when sweetening, or muddle a few berries or a slice of peach in the glass before adding ice.
To prepare ahead: brew a concentrated batch (2x) and refrigerate. When ready to serve, dilute with cold water and sweeten to taste, then pour over ice.