Photo: Perfect Iced Tea Recipe
Directions
Hot-Brewed:
Bring 8 cups water to a simmer; remove from the heat and add 3 tablespoons loose tea or 6 tea bags. Let steep about 4 minutes, until it's the strength you like. Strain loose tea with a fine-mesh sieve or remove the tea bags. Let cool, then transfer to a pitcher, cover and refrigerate.
Cold-Brewed:
Combine 8 cups cold water and 6 tablespoons loose tea or 10 tea bags in a pitcher. Cover and refrigerate 15 to 36 hours, until it's the strength you like. Strain loose tea with a fine-mesh sieve or remove the tea bags.
Sweet Teas:
Combine 3/4 cup each sugar and water in a saucepan and add 1 infuser, if desired. Bring to a simmer over medium heat, stirring until the sugar dissolves, then remove from the heat and let cool. Strain the infused syrup through a fine-mesh sieve (you'll get about 1 cup).
Orange Add 6 strips zest
Blackberries 1 cup
Cinnamon 2 sticks
Lavender 3 tablespoons dried
Vanilla 1 halved bean
Mint 3 sprigs
Ginger 1 cup sliced
Lemon 8 strips zest
Nectarine 1 cup chopped
Cucumber 2 cups chopped
Photograph by Levi Brown
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By Katmai_73
Madison, WI
on September 01, 2011
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I am from the south and a grew up making tea just like the reviewers did, and it makes a specific kind of very southern ice tea primed for sweetening. BUT, if you are not from the south or drink more expensive delicate loose tea (not Tetly or Lipton like i have learned to do and don't sweeten it with a cup of sugar. Then these are the perfect methods. The best ice tea, I ever drank was a earl gray with no sugar, and those don't come in giant one gallon bags at the grocery store. So, if you have a couple bags of a specialty tea that you would like to make into a ice tea, use the recipe above. If you have to make a huge amount of tea for a gathering or for people that drink it in gallons of it sweetened a day, in the heat, then you are better off with the method written up by Marnie713. 5 stars because this is a good recipe for the "perfect ice tea" not necessarily the best southern ice tea for the masses.
By lenaronald_10475089
Palmetto Bay Vi...
on August 26, 2011
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I make iced tea just like Marnie713 does, fill a medium pot with cold tap water, bring to a boil & throw 4 tea bags in, take off of the burner & cover, wait while it steeps a few minutes.I let it cool a little until it's just warm & then pour it into the tea container, add the sugar to taste & stir.Then add water to fill the tea pitcher. When I was a young girl we made the tea much sweeter but I've cut the sugar in half. It's very refreshing & yes we also use Lipton tea bags. as a side note one son & I enjoy hot specialty teas as well.I have 2 cups of hot tea in the morning instead of coffee. thanks for the tea recipes.
By PennyLemoine
on July 26, 2011
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The best ice tea I've ever had: take a Mr. Coffee Ice Tea Maker and Luzianne family size ice tea bags, 2 or 3 depending on the size of your pot. Brew and enjoy!
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