Refreshing brisk iced tea perfect for a summer afternoon or anytime!
The secret to making iced tea quick and easy is to ice-chill it. Make regular hot tea and then cool it down in seconds with ice. This recipe makes 8 cups of iced tea perfect for a 2-quart pitcher.
Sugar can be adjusted to your liking or omitted, or maple syrup or honey can be used. The recipe is made using 3 medium lemons. Don't shake the pitcher to dissolve sugar if used but stir instead.
This tea can be kept in the refrigerator 4 days. If it becomes cloudy before that add some hot water and stir and refrigerate again.
5 cups ice + more for serving
4 cups water
1/4 cup sugar or 4 T. or sweetener of choice or not!
5 black tea bags. (Or try Healing House Herbs Lemon Herbal Tea, Lemongrass Tea, Mango, or Orange Bliss)
Juice from 3 lemons and lemon slices for garnish
Mint sprig optional
Juice 3 lemons and strain out pulp and seeds and set aside.
Bring 4 cups of water to simmer and turn off heat. Put tea bags into hot water and steep 5 minutes and discard bags.
Stir sweetener into hot tea until completely dissolved.
Add ice to pitcher and close with leakproof lid and shake 15 seconds. Or stir vigorously for same time.
Add lemon juice and shake or stir vigorously.
Pour tea into cups with ice and lemon slices. Enjoy! Add a mint sprig if desired.