This hot weather just screams for iced tea. In our home, we have iced tea on tap in the fridge, the author’s roots are Southern, so it is the drink of my people. However, it is a refreshing beverage for people in all regions. Iced tea is a versatile drink that can be enjoyed plain or with various flavors and sweeteners, making it a popular choice for people of all ages and tastes. We are going to explore some regionally sourced ingredients to make the best iced tea ever. 

The Recipe

Ingredients:

  • 4 cups of water
  • 4-6 tea bags (black, green, or a blend of your choice, or you can purchase a gallon tea bag too)
  • Sweetener of your choice (sugar, honey, agave syrup, etc.) -Measure with your heart and your sweet tooth. 
  • Lemon slices, mint leaves, or other garnishes 
  • Ice cubes

Let’s break down each component…

Tea

First, we need the tea! We have a couple of great local options. Stash Tea has some wonderful iced tea blends. Typically, this author uses black tea for traditional iced tea, but feel free to experiment! Green iced tea is delicious as well. There are a ton of combinations. In addition, there are some tasty iced tea blends from Smith Tea. And if you are a bargain hunter, Costco is currently carrying Smith Tea Hibiscus Mango Herbal Iced Tea.

Sweeteners

You don’t have to do a sweetener, but it is yummy if you do. You can do sugar. Or try honey, here is a local honey source. You can also use agave syrup. Or a flavored syrup is a fun choice. Our favorites are peach syrup. Here is the recipe for the peach syrup. And here is a list of local U-picks that have peaches (and other fruit). Another good choice is mint syrup. Here is the mint syrup recipe. 

Garnishes

This is your add-on. Add some sliced lemon, or a peach slice for the peach tea, or a sprig of mint. 

Instructions:

  • Heat Water – Bring 4 cups of water to a boil in a pot or kettle. Or if you are using an electric kettle, you can be more precise. Really boiling water is a little too hot for brewing tea. Check out this tea temperature guide. 
  • Steep the Tea – Once the water reaches the desired temp, remove it from the heat and add the tea bags. Use 1 tea bag per cup of water for a stronger flavor, or adjust according to your preference. Cover the pot and let the tea steep for about 3-5 minutes.
  • Remove the Tea Bags – After the steeping time is up, carefully remove the tea bags from the hot water. Be cautious not to squeeze the bags to avoid bitterness.
  • Sweeten (Optional) – If you prefer sweetened iced tea, add your desired sweetener to the hot tea while it’s still warm. Stir well until the sweetener dissolves. Start with a small amount of sweetener, and then adjust to your taste.
  • Cool the Tea – Allow the tea to cool to room temperature. You can speed up the cooling process by placing the pot in the refrigerator or adding ice cubes.
  • Refrigerate – Once the tea has cooled down, transfer it to the refrigerator to chill for at least 1-2 hours. Chilling the tea is essential for achieving a refreshing iced tea.
  • Serve – Fill glasses with ice cubes and pour the chilled tea over them. Garnish with lemon slices, mint leaves, or any other flavorings you enjoy. You can also add more sweeteners if needed at this stage.
  • Enjoy – Sip and enjoy your delicious iced tea! If you find it too strong or too weak, adjust the amount of tea bags or steeping time for your next batch.

Additional Tips

  • To avoid a bitter taste, do not over-steep the tea.
  • If you want to make a larger batch, maintain a tea-to-water ratio of about 1 tea bag per cup of water.
  • Consider using high-quality tea leaves or tea bags for better flavor.
  • You can experiment with adding fruits, herbs, or even other beverages (like lemonade for an Arnold Palmer) to create various flavored iced teas.

Do you like iced tea? How do you like to make it? What are your favorite tea leaf choices? Do you like flavored iced tea? 

Are you going to make this a part of your summer drink rotation?