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Brisk Iced Tea

By Lorraine

 
How to make fresh brewed iced tea sweetened or without sugar. Homemade recipe using tea bags with a squeeze of lemon or orange juice and a sprig of mint.When the temperatures are soaring and the humidity is high a glass of cold, brisk iced tea hits the spot. It is really easy to make. Keep a pitcher in the fridge always ready to quench your thirst or serve to guests.

 

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Easy how-to recipe for making brewed iced tea. Steep tea bags, add sugar or leave unsweetened, add a squeeze of fresh lemon or orange juice and a sprig of mint. Serve chilled over ice for a refreshing beverage.Iced tea is a refreshing beverage, especially during the summer months. And it is so easy to modify to make it is just how you like. Add sugar while preparing or sweeten it by the glass when served. It is even good without sugar, if you are okay with that.

 
 
Iced tea is a very simple drink and probably a better alternative to soda. Much less expensive too. Here is a basic how-to for making it at home.

Brisk Iced Tea How-to:

Heat water just to boiling

 
Easy how-to for fresh brewed iced tea sweetened or without sugar. Homemade recipe using tea bags with a squeeze of lemon or orange juice and a sprig of mint.Bring 4 cups of fresh, cold water just to a boil using a kettle or pot. While waiting for the water to boil, remove the tags from 6-7 regular-size tea bags.
 
 
Easy how-to for fresh brewed iced tea sweetened or without sugar. Homemade recipe using tea bags with a squeeze of lemon or orange juice and a sprig of mint.
Add the tea bags to a gallon-size heat-resistant pitcher.
 
 
Easy how-to for fresh brewed iced tea sweetened or without sugar. Homemade recipe using tea bags with a squeeze of lemon or orange juice and a sprig of mint.Pour the hot the water over the tea bags in the pitcher. This should fill the pitcher about 1/3 full.

Steep the tea

 
 
Easy how-to for fresh brewed iced tea sweetened or without sugar. Homemade recipe using tea bags with a squeeze of lemon or orange juice and a sprig of mint.Allow to steep on the counter 30-60 minutes. 
 
 
While the tea is steeping, rinse the mint.
 
 
Easy how-to for fresh brewed iced tea sweetened or without sugar. Homemade recipe using tea bags with a squeeze of lemon or orange juice and a sprig of mint.When the tea is cool, remove the tea bags.  Don’t squeeze the tea bags, just spoon them out and discard.

Sweetening the ice tea

 
 
Add desired amount of sugar and stir until dissolved. 
 
 
Add additional cold water to fill the pitcher 2/3 to 3/4 full. Obviously, the less water you add the stronger the tea. 

 

 
Easy how-to for fresh brewed iced tea sweetened or without sugar. Homemade recipe using tea bags with a squeeze of lemon or orange juice and a sprig of mint.Squeeze in the juice of 1/4 to 1/2 a lemon. Oranges can be substituted for the lemon and is my favorite way to make iced tea. 
 
 
Easy how-to for fresh brewed iced tea sweetened or without sugar. Homemade recipe using tea bags with a squeeze of lemon or orange juice and a sprig of mint.If you like mint, add it now. Rub the leaves between your fingers in the iced tea to release the oils and flavor the tea. 
 
Easy how-to for fresh brewed iced tea sweetened or without sugar. Homemade recipe using tea bags with a squeeze of lemon or orange juice and a sprig of mint.Add a few lemon slices for garnish.
 
 
Serve the tea chilled in tall cold glasses and garnish with a fresh lemon or orange slice and maybe an additional small mint leaf, if desired.

I think the iced tea is best made each morning to serve at dinnertime.

 

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Brisk Iced Tea

INGREDIENTS

  • 6-7 regular- size tea bags (more if you like your tea extra strong)
  • 4 cups cold water plus additional cold water
  • Granulated sugar if you like sweetened ice tea. I prefer lightly sweetened using a rounded 1/4-cup scoop
  • Fresh lemon/orange (squeezed juice and slices/wedges for garnish)
  • Mint sprigs.

 

DIRECTIONS

  • Bring 4 cups of fresh, cold water just to a boil using a kettle or pot. Water that is boiled too long will produce a flat tasting tea.
  • Add 6-7 regular-size tea bags (regular or decaffeinated) with the tags cut off to a gallon-size, heat-resistant pitcher. 
  • Pour the hot the water over the tea bags in the pitcher. This should fill the pitcher about 1/3 full.  
  • Allow to steep on the counter for maybe 30-60 minutes to steep (sometimes I leave it for several hours). Some say steeping too long makes the tea bitter but I haven’t noticed a problem.
  • Remove the tea bags. Don’t squeeze the tea bags as that will release too much tannic acid.
  • Add sugar and stir until dissolved. I prefer iced tea less sweet but many prefer to add more sugar. It’s up to you. 3/4-1 cup of sugar makes a nice sweet tea. I have recently substituted Splenda for sugar and enjoyed it.
  • Add additional cold water to fill pitcher 2/3-3/4 full.
  • Squeeze in the juice of 1/4 to 1/2 a lemon or orange (my favorite) and drop in a few slices just because it looks pretty floating in the pitcher.
  • Add mint and rub the leaves between your fingers in the iced tea to release the oils and flavor the tea. Add as few as three leaves or more depending on how much mint taste you want. I don’t remove the leaves from the tea but you can.
  • Refrigerate until cold.
  • Serve the tea in tall cold glasses over ice and garnish with fresh lemon or orange slice and maybe a small mint leaf, if desired.

NOTE:
I prefer to serve and store iced tea in a glass pitcher but make it in a plastic or heat-resistant container so the boiling water doesn’t break the glass. Also be careful when stirring a glass pitcher with a metal spoon or use a wooden spoon for safety.

Growing mint 

Growing mint in the garden or pots is perfect to add to a cold glass of iced tea.

Common garden mint

You can easily grow mint in a pot or in the garden and it has a wonderful fragrance. It is a perennial plant and returns each year. Mint can be invasive so it is best to contain it by growing in a large-ish pot in a sunny location. Mint roots easily by snipping a 3-4-inch piece and placing in a glass of water. Place in indirect light and it will quickly sprout roots. Plant in potting soil or share with friends 🙂

 

Growing mint in the garden or pots is perfect to add to a cold glass of iced tea.

Spearmint for a little stronger flavor

 

 

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You might also like more summertime beverages… 

 

Tea from Garden Herb Orange MintHow to grow, harvest and dry this herb garden plant for use in making orange mint tea, fruit salad and desserts.

 

Hot ToddyMake a very easy recipe for Hot Toddy when a cold or the flu has you down. It is warm and tasty with whiskey, tea, honey and lemon to help relieve symptoms so you can rest and feel better.

 

 

Classic Pimm’s Cup"You have to have a Pimm's Cup and toast me from London!", we were told. During a recent trip we did and enjoyed this iconic drink of Britain.

 

Summertime Lemonade Easy and refreshing, summertime lemonade is a great thirst quencher. A fun cooking experience with kids too during those sometimes long, I'm-bored days. Make a pitcher full and sit back to enjoy the chill!

 

And for summertime meals and entertaining…

Basil Tomato PieThere is something about the flavor combo of fresh tomatoes and basil. Combined with creamy cheese in a flaky crust, basil tomato pie is bright, savory and delicious!

 

Fried ZucchiniA summertime favorite, breaded fried zucchini is a great side or appetizer. Easy recipe using just a few ingredients and cooked in a skillet until golden brown and crispy.

 

Broccoli Grape Pasta SaladTasty and colorful, Broccoli grape pasta salad is a perfect side dish, lunch entrée or light dinner meal. Tender pasta tossed with a creamy, sweet and tangy dressing and topped with toasted pecans and crisp bacon.

Summertime dessert suggestions…

No-Bake Peanut Butter PieEasy recipe for no-bake peanut butter pie with cream cheese and whipped topping in a heavenly chocolate crust. Creamy, frosty and easily made from scratch!

 

Easy Apple Crumb PieSweet streusel topping makes this apple crumb pie an old-fashioned favorite dessert. Easy recipe with a filling of apples and crumb topping baked until the apples are sweet and tender. Serve with or without a scoop of vanilla ice.

 

Creamy Rice PuddingEasy recipe for creamy rice pudding. This old-fashioned dessert is not overly sweet. Simmered gently on the stove top until the rice is tender but not mushy, it turns out perfect time after time.

 

 
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Filed Under: Beverages, Recipes

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Hi! I'm Lorraine. Welcome to Grateful Prayer Thankful Heart. A place to find food for your tummy, projects for your hands, and encouragement for your heart.

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