Fresh-brewed Iced Tea Recipe
Make Fresh-brewed Iced Tea Recipe in just 1h 20m. Get the full recipe with step-by-step instructions at pekinthechef.com.
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Ingredients
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Tea Base
Sweetener (optional)
Finish & Serve
Method
Tea Base
Heat water and steep
Bring 8 cups of water to a full boil. Remove from heat and add 8 teaspoons of loose black tea (or 8 black tea bags) to the hot water. Cover the pot and steep for 5 minutes for a balanced strength (steep 6–8 minutes for stronger flavor, 3–4 minutes for lighter).
Strain
After steeping, strain out the loose leaves using a fine-mesh sieve or remove the tea bags and gently press them against the side of the pot to extract flavor (do not squeeze aggressively to avoid bitterness).
Sweetener (optional)
Make simple syrup
If you want sweetened iced tea, combine 1 cup granulated sugar with 1/4 cup hot water in a heatproof measuring cup or small saucepan. Stir until the sugar fully dissolves to make a concentrated syrup. Let it cool slightly.
Incorporate sweetener
While the brewed tea is still warm (but not boiling), stir in the sugar syrup to taste. Start with half to two-thirds of the syrup (about 1/2 cup) and add more if you want sweeter tea. Mixing while warm ensures even dissolution.
Finish & Serve
Dilute and cool
Pour the strained tea into a large pitcher. Add 4 cups of cold water to dilute to serving strength. If you used sweetener, taste and adjust now. Optionally stir in 2 tablespoons of lemon juice for brightness.
Chill
Refrigerate the pitcher until well chilled, at least 1 hour. For fastest results, fill glasses with ice when serving and pour the warm-to-warmish tea over ice to cool immediately, then refrigerate any leftover.