Description
A refreshing and tangy Lemon Iced Tea recipe made by steeping black or green tea leaves with sugar and fresh lemon juice, served chilled with ice cubes and optional lemon slices for garnish. This easy-to-make beverage is perfect for a hot day or as a revitalizing drink anytime.
Ingredients
Tea Base
- 5.25 cups water
- 2 tablespoons black tea powder or black tea leaves or green tea leaves
Sweetener and Flavor
- ½ cup sugar (can reduce to ¼ cup to ⅓ cup for less sweetness)
- 3 tablespoons lemon juice (adjust to 4 tablespoons for more lemony taste)
Serving
- Ice cubes as required
- Few lemon slices for garnish (optional)
Instructions
- Boil Water: Pour 5.25 cups of water into a pot or saucepan and heat on medium flame until it reaches a rolling boil.
- Add Tea and Sugar: Once boiling, turn off the heat and immediately add 2 tablespoons of black tea powder or tea leaves, and ½ cup sugar. Stir thoroughly to dissolve the sugar.
- Steep Tea: Allow the tea to steep for 4 to 5 minutes if using black tea powder, or 2 to 3 minutes if using tea leaves. For green tea, steep for about 2 minutes to avoid bitterness.
- Add Lemon Juice: After steeping, add 3 tablespoons of fresh lemon juice to the hot tea and stir well. Adjust the quantity up to 4 tablespoons for a stronger lemon flavor if desired.
- Strain Tea: Using a tea strainer, strain the lemon tea into a heat-resistant glass or steel jar to remove tea leaves or powder.
- Cool Tea: Let the strained tea cool to room temperature, then refrigerate to chill.
- Prepare Glasses: When ready to serve, place 4 to 5 ice cubes into each glass (adjust ice quantity to preference), or skip if using already chilled tea straight from the refrigerator.
- Pour and Garnish: Pour the chilled lemon tea into the glasses, add 1 to 2 lemon slices for garnish if desired, and optionally add a sprig of mint for extra freshness.
- Serve: Serve immediately. Stir the lemon iced tea with a spoon or stirrer while drinking for balanced flavors.
Notes
- Adjust sugar amount according to taste preference for sweetness.
- Use fresh lemon juice for best flavor impact.
- If using green tea, steep for a shorter time to prevent bitterness.
- Chilling the tea thoroughly enhances the refreshing quality of the iced tea.
- Lemon slices and mint leaves are optional but add a nice visual and aromatic touch.
- This recipe can be doubled or halved depending on the number of servings needed.
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Cook Time: 10 minutes
- Category: Beverage
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: American