How to Make Iced Tea in Quick and Easy Ways

I always find myself reaching for a glass of refreshing iced tea when I’m out with friends in the summer.

This cold beverage is the perfect addition to meals out and about or on hot days when the Texas sun can leave me feeling extremely dehydrated.

Personally, I have strong feelings about ice tea and will only drink traditionally brewed iced tea with sweetener.

I won’t even pollute my tea with lemon. Flavored iced teas have never resonated with me but I am in the minority on this.

My family loves flavored iced teas so we are including a fruit-infused iced tea option here as well.  

It’s quite simple to make but you do need to set some time aside for it to brew and it is best if it has a chance to chill in the fridge.

Making Iced Tea

There’s a variety of recipes you can follow if you want to learn how to make iced tea but I’ve narrowed it down to the following three.

Southern Iced Tea

If your idea of the perfect drink is a tall glass of iced tea on the rocks, then take a look at this recipe.

Yields: 10 glasses of tea

What You Need

• Family-size tea bags (3-4)
• Ice cubes
• Sugar or sweetener, as desired
• Water

Instructions

1. Add 4 cups of water in a saucepan and bring it to a boil.
2. Turn off the heat and add about 3 to 4 bags of your choice of tea. Don’t boil the tea.
3. Let the teabags infuse inside the water for up to 5 minutes. Don’t leave them in any longer or the tea will become very bitter.
4. After removing the teabags, pour the mixture into a pitcher. (If you want to add sugar this is when you would add it and stir in. Sugar dissolves fastest in hot water. Artificial sweeteners taste best if added to each individual glass when served.)
5. Let it cool down for 5 to 10 minutes.
6. Add 6 cups of cold water into the mixture to dilute the tea and make sure it’s not too strong. Stir it well.
7. Refrigerate the tea in a covered glass pitcher for at least 2 hours.
8. Add ice cubes inside tall glasses and pour the chilled tea on top.
9. Squeeze a slice of lemon for flavor as desired.
10. You can also add a sprig of mint if you like.
11. Add sweetener to taste.

Here are some helpful tips for how to store tea to keep it fresh and tasty the longest!

Fruity Iced Tea

If you’re not a fan of the classic iced tea and like to keep things sweet and fruity, then this next recipe is ideal for you.

What You Need

• 1 c of diced fruit (berries, melons, pineapple, citrus all work best)
• 3 or 4 family-sized tea bags, or 6 individual tea bags
• ½ c of sugar syrup
• ½ c of lemon juice
• Sugar
• Water
• Ice cubes
• Sprig of mint (optional)
• Iced tea spoon (Here’s a highly rated set of iced tea spoons for less than ten bucks)

Instructions

1. Make strong tea using the method listed above.
2. Refrigerate the mixture for at least 2 hours.
3. Add about a ½ cup of sugar syrup and mix it well.
4. Dice the fruit into ¼-inch cubes; add to a bowl.
5. Pour in a little bit of lemon juice.
6. Muddle the fruits with a long spoon to crush and release flavor.
7. Add them to the tea mixture and stir.
8. Add ice cubes in a couple of glasses and pour the tea over them.
9. Serve with a sprig of mint.

Making Cold Brewed Iced Tea

If any of the recipes mentioned above aren’t really your cup of tea, then this recipe for the perfect cold brewed iced tea is just what you need to cool down on a hot summer afternoon.

What You Need

• 4 Teabags
• 32 oz water
• Sliced lemon
• Fresh mint leaves
• Sliced cucumber (optional)

Instructions

1. Pour 32 oz of cold water into a jug or a pitcher and add the teabags.
2. Cover it with a lid, then refrigerate.
3. Allow it to steep in the fridge for 24 hours.
4. Remove the teabags from the pitcher.
5. Serve it with sliced lemon, fresh mint leaves or sliced cucumber as desired.

What Tea Makes the Best Iced Tea?

The best thing about iced tea is that there’s a flavor of everyone. If you enjoy the classic iced tea, then you should get traditional black tea.

You can even use them as a base in fruity teas if you wish to change it up and add slices of fruit to make it fancy.

Peppermint tea is also quite popular in the summer and it has a cooling flavor for upset tummies too.

If you’re more drawn to herbal teas, then you need to get your hands on green tea bags or tisanes.

If you enjoy subtle flavors that have sweet undertones, then you’ll find white iced tea to be the perfect drink to accompany a fancy meal at a restaurant.

Spruce up Your Drink

If you’re worried that adding ice cubes will dilute the tea and take away from that brisk flavor you’ve grown to love so much, then here’s a simple yet effective tip.

Take out ice cube trays, pour some of the tea into it, and then freeze it.

After they’ve frozen completely, add the cubes to a glass and pour the tea on top. This will keep the drink chilled and not water it down.

If you’re feeling adventurous, you can even make watermelon, raspberries or pineapple cubes and add them to the drinks for a fun, colorful pop.