Get a crisp and refreshing cool-down on a hot summer’s day with this easy iced tea recipe.
This guide creates a clean and bright balance of freshly brewed iced tea to subtle sweetness using your favorite brand of tea bags and a few secret steps.
Iced Tea Made from Scratch!
- Why wait in line at Starbucks when you can make homemade iced tea that’s fresh and exactly to your liking at home for less than half the price?
- This guide to brewing the perfect pitcher of iced tea creates the ultimate summer refresher.
- Enjoy a tall, cool glass of iced tea on its own with lots of ice, a sprig of mint, and a lemon slice, and don’t forget a colorful straw.
- Or make an Arnold Palmer with half iced tea and half lemonade, or a sweet and summery Long Island iced tea cocktail.
What’s in Homemade Iced Tea?
Tea: The best iced tea starts with quality tea—black, green, white, or herbal all work. No need for special iced tea blends. Black tea brews best in boiling water, while green and herbal teas prefer slightly cooler water. Hotter water gives a stronger flavor; cooler water makes a milder brew.
Water: Tap water is generally suitable for making iced tea, but spring (AKA filtered) water has a natural mineral and pH balance that won’t affect the flavor of home-brewed iced tea.
Sweetener: Always add sweetener while the tea is warm so it dissolves instead of sinking to the bottom. Go beyond white or brown sugar—try honey, agave, monk fruit, stevia, or cocktail-style simple syrup. For a fun twist, use lilac syrup with a lavender garnish or top with whipped cream for a creamy treat.
Ice: The amount of ice determines how quickly iced tea gets watered down, so it’s better to use fewer cubes that are larger than crushed ice, for instance.
Garnishes: Besides fresh mint and lemon slices, why not try a skewer of frozen berries, orange wedges, or pineapple?
How to Make Iced Tea
- Bring water to a boil.
- Place tea bags in a pitcher and pour in boiling water (full recipe below).
- Steep tea to the desired strength and remove the tea bags.
- Stir in sweetener. Cool tea to room temperature.
- Pour tea over ice cubes and garnish with lemon slices, mint, or fresh fruit.
How Long Does It Last?
Homemade iced tea can lose its flavor after a few days in the fridge. Refresh it with a half teaspoon of baking soda to clear cloudiness from sweeteners and reduce bitterness from tannins.
Why not make concentrated ice cubes from leftover iced tea? Add them to a fresh pitcher of iced tea or use them to cool off a cup of hot tea in a pinch.
More Summer Thirst Quenchers
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Iced Tea Recipe
Equipment
Ingredients
- 4-6 tea bags black, green, or herbal tea, depending on your preference
- 8 cups water
- sweetener sugar, honey, stevia, etc, optional
- ice cubes for serving
- lemon slices mint leaves, or fruit pieces, optional garnish
Instructions
- In a kettle or a saucepan, boil water.
- Into a large pitcher, add tea bags and boiling water. Let the tea bags steep for about 5-10 minutes, until it reaches desired strength. For a stronger tea, steep longer; for a milder flavor, steep for less time.
- After steeping, remove the tea bags from the pitcher without squeezing them (this can release bitter tannins).
- Add sweetener, if using, while the tea is still warm so it dissolves easily. Adjust sweetener to taste.
- Allow the tea to come to room temperature either on the counter or in the refrigerator.
- Fill glasses with ice cubes. Pour cooled tea over ice, garnish with lemon slices, mint leaves, or pieces of fresh fruit if desired
Nutrition Information
Nutrition information does not include optional ingredients or garnish and is an estimate. It may change based on actual ingredients and cooking methods used.
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