Make Iced Tea

Iced tea is a refreshing beverage that is the most popular in the heat of summer. Whether you want to substitute your hot tea for some cool iced tea, or have an iced tea party for your friends, iced tea is always a welcome treat. It does require some advanced preparation, so you'll need to follow these steps to learn how to make your own refreshing iced tea.

  • Prep time: 5 minutes
  • Cook time: 2-3 hours (steep time: 5 minutes)
  • Total time: 2-3 hours

Ingredients

Simple Iced Tea

  • 3-4 black tea bags
  • Sugar to taste
  • Ice cubes
  • Water
  • mint (optional)

Fruity Iced Tea

  • 3-4 black tea bags
  • 1 cup of any diced fruit
  • Sugar to taste
  • 1/2 cup sugar syrup
  • 1/2 cup lemon juice
  • Ice cubes
  • Water
  • Sprig of mint

Strawberry Iced Tea

  • 3-4 black tea bags
  • Sugar to taste
  • Ice cubes
  • Water
  • Sprig of mint
  • 900g pureed strawberries
  • 2 whole strawberries

Vanilla Iced Green Tea

  • 4 tsp. Sencha tea
  • Sugar to taste
  • Ice cubes
  • Water
  • Sprig of mint
  • Honey
  • Lemon juice
  • 1 scoop vanilla ice cream

Steps

Simple Black Iced Tea

  1. Bring 2 cups (480 ml) of water to a rapid boil. You can boil the water in a small pan or a pot.
  2. Turn off the heat.
  3. Add 3-5 bags of your favorite black tea. Ceylon and Keemun teas can work best because they won't turn cloudy when they're left to stand. You can even choose a special tea blend that is made specifically for iced tea.
  4. Leave the teabags in the hot water for 5 minutes. Any longer than that and the tea will be too bitter. If you leave them in for less time than that, then the tea will be too weak. This will be a very strong mixture of tea -- you'll dilute it with water momentarily. Remove the tea bags after the time has passed.
  5. Pour the tea into a pitcher. Wait 5-10 minutes for it to cool down.
  6. Pour 2 cups (480 ml) of cold water into the tea. This will dilute the tea and will make the mixture less strong. You can stir the mixture for best results.
  7. Refrigerate the mixture until it's chilled. This should take 2-3 hours.
  8. Serve the tea. Pour the tea into a tall glass that is filled with ice. Squeeze a slice of lemon into the tea and add a sprig of mint to the top. If you'd like to add sugar, start by stirring in half a teaspoon and add more to taste.

Fruity Iced Tea

  1. Make strong black tea. Use the same method you would use to make simple iced tea: just boil 2 cups of water, steep 3-5 tea bags in it for 5 minutes, pour 2 cups of water into the mix, and add sugar or lemon to taste. Pour this mixture into a pitcher.
  2. Refrigerate to chill. Leave the tea in the fridge for 2-3 hours.
  3. Add 1/2 cup of sugar syrup. Stir this into the mixture -- if it's not sweet enough, add more of the syrup.
  4. Fill 1 cup with slivers of fresh fruit. Dice peaches, pineapples, strawberries, raspberries, and apples until they fit into 1 cup. You can sprinkle them with a bit of lemon juice.
  5. Add the cup to the tea mixture. Stir it around until the fruit mixes in with the black tea and floats evenly in the pitcher.
  6. Serve the tea. Pour the tea into a glass filled with ice. Add a sprig of mint to the top.

Strawberry Iced Tea

  1. Pour 2 quarts/{{safesubst:#invoke:convert|convert}} of hot black tea tea into a ceramic or glass mixing bowl.
  2. Add the 1/3 cups of superfine (caster) sugar to the tea. Stir thoroughly to dissolve the sugar.
  3. Add 1/2 cups of freshly squeezed lemon juice. Test to see if it requires additional sweetening or lemon juice and adjust accordingly. Then, set it aside to cool.
  4. Puree 31 oz/900g strawberries. Push the puree through a fine-sieve to remove the pips. Press on the mixture with the back of a wooden spoon.
  5. Once the tea has cooled, add the puree and mix. Mix thoroughly. Pour the mixture into a pitcher.
  6. Refrigerate for 30 minutes. Let this mixture cool off and settle together for thirty minutes or longer.
  7. Serve. Fill a glass with ice and pour the tea into it. Add a few strawberries -- whole or sliced -- to the side of the glass as a garnish.

Vanilla Iced Green Tea

  1. Brew 4 rounded teaspoons of Sencha tea in 1 liter/33 fl oz of hot water. Let the tea infuse for 1-2 minutes.
  2. Strain the tea into a jug or pitcher.
  3. Add 1 tablespoon of freshly squeezed lemon juice. Stir well.
  4. Add 1 tablespoon of honey. Stir well.
  5. Stir the ingredients together. Stir the tea until it's evenly blended.
  6. Serve the tea with a scoop of vanilla ice cream. Add one scoop of vanilla ice cream to each glass and finish by pouring the chilled green tea over the top. This tea can be served as a dessert.

Other Variations of Iced Tea

  1. Make sweet tea. This version is especially suitable for sweet-tooths and outdoor grilling in the Southern United States. Sugar never dissolves completely in cold tea. To make this variation of tea, you can follow the recipe for making simple black iced tea, except you should add 1 cup of simple syrup for every 2 cups of water of the finished iced tea mixture. If that doesn't taste sweet enough, just add more.
    • This tea tastes excellent when it's garnished with mint.
  2. Make lemon iced tea. To make this citrus-flavored tea, begin by making ordinary black tea by boiling 2 cups of water, steeping 3-5 tea bags in it for 5 minutes, and pouring 2 cups of water into the mix. Then, squeeze the juice from a lemon to fill 1/2 a cup with lemon juice. Stir this into the cooled mix. If that's not lemony enough, just add a bit more. Serve this tea over ice with sugar to taste and a sprig of mint.
  3. Make vanilla iced tea. Brew 2 cups of ordinary black tea. Let the tea cool down and add 1 cup of cold water; some ice cubes are fine too. Add 2 teaspoons of vanilla essence (extract). Serve with a spoonful of vanilla ice-cream.



Tips

  • You might want to add a few mint leaves semi-crushed to your tea as it cools, to give it a light and minty flavor.
  • Did you know? Tea can be affected by the same fungal reaction that can occur in corked wine? If your tea smells or tastes musty or moldy, it's tainted––throw it away.
  • To sweeten tea after it is cold, use agave nectar. The agave dissolves in cold liquid, unlike sugar or honey.
  • Is it over 90F outside? Get a large jar with a lid. Fill with water and teabags. Seal jar with lid and place in the sun. Leave outside for 3 hours or more. Serve over ice.
  • The rule of thumb for making iced tea is to add 50 percent more tea than you would for a hot tea; this provides enough flavor that won't be diluted by the melting ice.
  • For colder, faster iced tea, you can put the tea in the freezer for an hour or two.
  • Never brew tea in a coffee maker like most restaurants. The taste is unmistakable. Homemade tea is always better!
  • As an alternative to lemon, try adding a few lemon myrtle leaves.
  • You can also add a squeeze of lemon to make it lemon iced tea.
  • You can also make tea with ginger for extra taste.
  • Don't make it to sweet, or it will be, sweet tea!

Warnings

  • Make sure not to put too much sugar in anything or it will taste bad. Never put too much of anything. Remember: Less is more.
  • Don't go over the 5 minute limit with the teabags in the hot water.
  • Due to tea solids, iced tea made in this way sometimes becomes cloudy; if this happens, it doesn't affect the taste. However, if you don't like how it looks, pour a small amount of boiling water into the tea; this will clear it up.

Things You'll Need

  • Small pan
  • Suitable container (jug, pitcher) capable of holding 2 quarts/{{safesubst:#invoke:convert|convert}} of liquid

Related Articles

  • Make Ginger Iced Tea
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