How to 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 Black 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 puréed 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

Method 1

Method 1 of 5:

Simple Black Iced Tea

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You can boil the water in a small pan or a pot.
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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.
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.^{[1]XResearch source}
Wait 5-10 minutes for it to cool down.
This will dilute the tea and will make the mixture less strong. You can stir the mixture for best results.^{[2]XResearch source}
This should take 2-3 hours.
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.

Method 2

Method 2 of 5:

Fruity Iced Tea

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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.
Leave the tea in the fridge for 2-3 hours.^{[3]XResearch source}
Stir this into the mixture -- if it's not sweet enough, add more of the syrup.^{[4]XResearch source}
Dice peaches, pineapples, strawberries, raspberries, and apples until they fit into 1 cup. You can sprinkle them with a bit of lemon juice.
Stir it around until the fruit mixes in with the black tea and floats evenly in the pitcher.
Pour the tea into a glass filled with ice. Add a sprig of mint to the top.

Method 3

Method 3 of 5:

Strawberry Iced Tea

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Stir thoroughly to dissolve the sugar.
Test to see if it requires additional sweetening or lemon juice and adjust accordingly. Then, set it aside to cool.
Push the puree through a fine-sieve to remove the pips. Press on the mixture with the back of a wooden spoon.^{[5]XResearch source}
Mix thoroughly. Pour the mixture into a pitcher.^{[6]XResearch source}
Let this mixture cool off and settle together for thirty minutes or longer.
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.

Method 4

Method 4 of 5:

Vanilla Iced Green Tea

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Let the tea infuse for 1-2 minutes.
Stir well.
Stir well.^{[7]XResearch source}
Stir the tea until it's evenly blended.
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.

Method 5

Method 5 of 5:

Other Variations of Iced Tea

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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.
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.^{[8]XResearch source}
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.

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Community Q&A

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Question
Can I double this recipe or do I make several batches?
Community Answer
Doubling it will take longer to chill and may not work as well. To play it safe go with several batches.
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Does it taste like iced tea?
Community Answer
If you are talking about the iced tea you get at the store, no. The difference is that store-bought iced tea is much sweeter than homemade. The variants with ice cream and fruit will not taste like store-bought iced tea.
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Can I freeze the tea?
Community Answer
Yes, you may freeze the tea.
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Tips

Did you know that 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.^{[9]XResearch source}
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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Don't go over the 5 minute limit with the teabags in the hot water.
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