Iced tea, which is brewed with fresh lemon juice and black tea, is refreshing and tart, making it the ideal way to beat the summer heat. Iced tea is just brewed tea that has been cooled and served cold, usually over ice with a dash of sugar or lemon. This simple Lemon Iced Tea recipe can be adjusted with your preferred sweetener or fruit juice and takes around 10 minutes to prepare (not including cooling time).
Prep Time: 5 minutes
Cook Time: 5 minutes
Total Time: 10 minutes
Servings: 4
Course: Beverages
Diet: Gluten Free, Vegan
Ingredients
▢1.24 litre water
▢Two tablespoons of either green tea leaves or black tea powder
▢0.5 cup sugar; for a less sweet taste, you can instead add ¼ cup to ¾ cup sugar.
▢Three tablespoons of lemon juice, or more if needed
▢ice cubes as required
▢lemon slices – few, for garnish, optional
Instructions
Steeping tea
1:In a pot or saucepan pour water.
2:Heat the pan over medium heat and bring the water to a boil.
3:After the water reaches a boil, lower the heat and stir in two tablespoons of black tea powder or tea leaves.
4:Add sugar. Mix very well.
5:For four to five minutes, steep the black tea powder in boiling water. Steep it for just two to three minutes for a lighter flavor.Two to three minutes is usually plenty when utilizing tea leaves.Steep green tea for two minutes if you’re using it.
6:Add three tablespoons of lemon juice to the tea once it has steeped in the boiling water. You might choose to add four tablespoons of lemon juice for a more lemony flavor.
7:Stir with a spoon.
8:Next, drain the lemon tea into a glass or steel jar using a tea strainer. The heat should not be too much for the glass jar.
9:Allow the lemon tea to cool to room temperature. You can refrigerate it later.
Making iced tea
1:When serving, add four to five ice cubes to a glass or glasses. You can add more or less, according on your tastes. You don’t need to add ice cubes if you’re drinking cold iced tea straight from the fridge.
2:Also add 1 to 2 lemon slices. Adding lemon slices is optional.
3:Fill the glass or glasses with the lemon tea.
4:Add a sprig of mint leaves or a slice of lemon as a garnish.
5:Serve Lemon Iced Tea immediately. Use a spoon or stirrer to stir the lemon-iced tea while you’re sipping.
Storage
1.Store the ice tea in the refrigerator if you won’t be serving it that day.
2.When refrigerated, it keeps well for two to three days. It might begin to ferment, so don’t leave it outside.
Expert Tips
Tea leaves: For this recipe, you can use either green or black tea. Steep the leaves to the strength you choose, either mild or strong.
Prevent bitterness: Black tea powder in particular can become bitter if it is oversteeped. Usually, three to five minutes is plenty.
Prevent cloudiness:Before putting the brewed tea in the refrigerator, let it cool to room temperature. Hot tea might get hazy if it is put straight in the refrigerator.
Fruit variations: Try experimenting with berries, oranges, apples, limes, and other fruits. Other citrus juices can be used in place of lemon juice.
Modify sweetness: Taste and modify the quantity of sugar if you’re using different fruits or juices.
Sweetener options: Use any kind of sweetener you like, such as agave, white sugar, raw sugar, cane sugar, coconut sugar, jaggery, or honey. Make sure to wait until the brewed tea has cooled to room temperature before adding honey. According to Ayurveda, adding honey to hot food or beverages turns it hazardous.
No lemon? For a simple iced tea version, you can omit the lemon juice entirely.
Ideas for garnishes: Fresh basil or mint leaves offer a refreshing touch.
Storage: Keep the ice tea refrigerated. For three to four days, it remains fresh. It might ferment, so don’t leave it out.
Scaling up: To feed a large group of people, this dish is easily doubled or tripled.
FAQs
What other fruit iced teas can I make using this recipe?
Limes, oranges, berries, or even seasonal fruits like mango or peaches can be used to make a cool iced tea. Simply replace the lemon juice with your preferred fruit.
Why does my iced tea appear hazy or taste bitter?
Over-steeping tea, particularly black tea, frequently results in bitterness. Just steep for three to five minutes. To prevent cloudiness, let clear tea cool to room temperature before putting it in the refrigerator.
What is the shelf life of homemade iced tea?
It can be kept in the refrigerator for up to two or three days in a covered container. To prevent fermentation, keep it cold at all times.
Can this recipe be doubled or halved?
Yes, easily. There are roughly four servings in the basic recipe. Depending on how many glasses you require, you can scale it up or down.
Nutrition
| Nutrient | Quantity |
|---|---|
| Calories | 102 kcal |
| Carbohydrates | 26 g |
| Protein | 0.04 g |
| Fat | 0.03 g |
| Saturated Fat | 0.01 g |
| Polyunsaturated Fat | 0.003 g |
| Sodium | 16 mg |
| Potassium | 22 mg |
| Fiber | 0.04 g |
| Sugar | 25 g |
| Vitamin A | 1 IU |
| Vitamin B1 | 0.003 mg |
| Vitamin B2 | 0.003 mg |
| Vitamin B3 | 0.01 mg |
| Vitamin B6 | 0.01 mg |
| Vitamin C | 4 mg |
| Vitamin E | 0.02 mg |
| Calcium | 13 mg |
| Vitamin B9 | 3 µg |
| Iron | 0.1 mg |
| Magnesium | 4 mg |
| Phosphorus | 1 mg |
| Zinc | 0.04 mg |