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FEATURED Fresh Brewed Ice Tea
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Fresh Brewed Ice Tea

Cool off with the perfect glass of fresh brewed iced tea! Easy recipe along with tips for brewing and sweetening this classic beverage!
Prep Time5 minutes
Cook Time10 minutes
Cool Time1 hour
Total Time1 hour 15 minutes
Course: Drinks
Cuisine: American
Keyword: Iced tea
Servings: 8 servings
Calories: 48kcal
Author: Lois

Equipment

Ingredients

  • 4-6 tea bags (black, green, herbal)
  • 8 cups water
  • ice cubes
  • ½ cup sugar
  • lemon slices (optional)

Instructions

  • Heat the water until it reaches a boil. You can do this in a kettle or on the stove.
  • Once the water is boiling, pour it over the tea bags in a large pitcher. Let the tea bags steep for about 5-10 minutes, depending on how strong you like your tea. For a stronger tea, steep longer; for a milder flavor, steep for less time.
  • After steeping, remove the tea bags from the pitcher. Be careful not to squeeze them as this can release bitter tannins.
  • If you're adding sweetener, do it while the tea is still warm so it dissolves easily. Adjust the amount of sweetener to your taste.
  • Allow the tea to come to room temperature. You can speed up this process by placing the pitcher in the refrigerator.
  • Fill glasses with ice cubes. Pour the cooled tea over the ice, garnish with lemon slices, mint leaves, or pieces of fresh fruit if desired.

Notes

  • Over-steeping can make your iced tea bitter. Refer to the specific tea's recommended steep time, and reduce it by a minute or two for iced tea.
  • Let the tea bags drip naturally. Squeezing them releases a bitter flavor.
  • To sweeten the iced tea, start with ½ cup of sugar and add more if needed. 

Nutrition

Serving: 1cup | Calories: 48kcal | Carbohydrates: 12g | Fat: 0.04g | Sodium: 12mg | Potassium: 0.3mg | Sugar: 12g | Calcium: 7mg | Iron: 0.01mg