Easy Iced Tea Recipe for Beginners
A simple, quick, and refreshing iced tea recipe perfect for hot summer days, made with black tea, sugar, and optional lemon and mint.
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Cook Time: 5 minutes
- Total Time: 30-40 minutes
- Yield: 4 servings 1x
- Category: Beverage
- Cuisine: American
Ingredients
Scale
- 4–5 black tea bags (Twinings English Breakfast or Bigelow Classic Black recommended)
- 4 cups (950 ml) fresh filtered water
- 1/4 to 1/3 cup (50–65 grams) granulated sugar (or honey/agave syrup as substitute)
- 2 tablespoons (30 ml) fresh lemon juice (optional)
- A handful of fresh mint leaves (optional)
- Ice cubes (large or reusable preferred)
Instructions
- Boil 4 cups (950 ml) of fresh water in a medium saucepan over medium-high heat until rolling boil (about 5 minutes).
- Remove from heat and immediately add 4-5 black tea bags. Steep for exactly 5 minutes.
- While the tea is still hot, stir in 1/4 to 1/3 cup (50-65 grams) granulated sugar until fully dissolved.
- Remove tea bags, gently squeezing them against the pot to extract extra flavor. Let the tea cool to room temperature (about 20-30 minutes).
- Pour cooled tea into a heatproof pitcher, add fresh lemon juice if desired, and stir gently.
- Fill glasses with ice cubes, pour the tea over, garnish with fresh mint leaves if desired, and serve.
Notes
Steep tea for exactly 5 minutes to avoid bitterness. Stir sugar into hot tea to dissolve fully. Let tea cool naturally before adding ice to prevent dilution. For extra cold tea, chill in fridge for 30 minutes before serving. Use quality tea bags for best flavor. Variations include fruit infusions, herbal teas, and alternative sweeteners.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 glass (about 8 oz)
- Calories: 60
- Sugar: 15
- Sodium: 5
- Carbohydrates: 15
Keywords: iced tea, easy iced tea, summer drink, refreshing drink, black tea, homemade iced tea, beginner recipe