Refreshing Iced Tea Recipe

A perfectly balanced, crisp, and refreshing homemade iced tea that is easy to customize to your liking.

Print Recipe

Prep Time 5

Cook Time 10

Total Time 15

Servings: 4 glasses

Course: Beverage, Summer Drink

Cuisine: American

Calories: 80

Ingredients Method Notes

Ingredients

Tea Base

4 bags Black Tea Bags (e.g., Orange Pekoe, English Breakfast) Use high-quality bags or 4 teaspoons loose leaf tea.
4 cups Boiling Water

Sweetener & Flavor (Optional)

1/2 cup Granulated Sugar Adjust to taste, or omit for unsweetened tea.
1 item Lemon Juice for serving.
2 cups Cold Water For dilution.
1 cup Ice Cubes For serving.

Method

Instructions

Bring 4 cups of water to a rolling boil in a saucepan or electric kettle.
Place the tea bags into a large, heat-proof pitcher or container. Pour the boiling water over the tea bags and allow to steep for 5 minutes. Do not over-steep, or the tea may become bitter.
While the tea is steeping, dissolve the sugar in the hot tea mixture. Stir thoroughly until all granules are completely integrated into the liquid.
Remove and discard the tea bags. Pour in the 2 cups of cold water to bring the temperature down slightly and thin the concentrate.
To serve, fill tall glasses generously with ice cubes. Pour the cooled tea over the ice.
Garnish each glass with a fresh slice of lemon and serve immediately. Taste and adjust sweetness or lemon juice as desired before serving.

Notes

For an enhanced flavor, add a few mint sprigs or a strip of lemon zest to the tea while steeping. If you prefer sweet tea, consider making a simple syrup ahead of time instead of the granulated sugar for perfect dissolution.