Make the perfect glass of refreshing lemon iced tea at home with 5 ingredients, including black tea and fresh lemon juice.
Lemon Iced Tea
Lemon iced tea combines black tea, fresh lemon juice, and sugar to make a bold and refreshing drink.
When making lemon iced tea, it’s important to use the right amount of lemon juice and sugar so that the drink has the perfect balance of sweet and tart.
Lemon iced tea is black tea that is brewed hot then cooled down and served over ice. Fresh lemon juice is added to flavor the tea.
To prevent the tea from tasting bitter, the black tea needs to be steeped at the right water temperature for no more than 5 minutes.
Cold brewed lemon Iced tea uses a different method that steeps tea bags in cold water in the fridge for 6-8 hours.
RELATED: Peach Iced Tea
Recipe Highlights
- This lemon iced tea is a cool, brisk beverage made with black tea, lemon juice, sugar, water, and ice.
- Black tea is brewed hot and made into a tea concentrate so that the tea will cool down quickly.
- Filled with practical tips from a tea sommelier to make the perfect lemon iced tea.
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Ingredient Notes
- Black tea
Any black tea, like English breakfast, can be used. Tea bags are the easiest way to make this drink, but you can also use loose tea or tea sachets. - Lemon juice
Freshly squeezed lemon juice adds the best sweet-tart flavor. - Sugar
White sugar is used in this recipe, but you can use any sweetener you prefer. - Water
For the best tasting iced tea, use filtered water. - Ice
Use filtered water to make ice if you can.
Step-by-Step Instructions
For full ingredients and instructions, scroll down to see the recipe.
- Put tea bags and hot water into a teapot. Cover and steep.
Boil water on the stovetop or use an electric kettle with a temperature setting. For best results, make tea ahead of time and chill in the refrigerator. - Remove tea bags and stir in sugar.
- Add lemon juice and cold water. Chill tea in the refrigerator.
- Pour tea into a cup with ice.
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Recipe Notes
Don’t oversteep the tea.
Set a timer and brew the tea for no more than 5 minutes. The longer you steep black tea, the more astringent and bitter it’ll get.
Use tea bags, tea sachets, or loose tea.
Tea bags or sachets make for quick and easy cleanup, but you can also use loose tea. Use 1 ½ teaspoons of black loose tea or 1 tea sachet instead of 1 tea bag.
Fresh squeezed lemon juice provides the best flavor.
To make squeezing lemons fast and easy, use a citrus juicer, which catches pulp and seeds. The drink is made with 2 tablespoons of lemon juice, which is juice from half a lemon.
Tea Sommelier’s Tips
- Instead of sugar, try a flavored simple syrup like ginger, mint, strawberry, peach, or hibiscus. Start with 1 tablespoon then add more to taste.
- This lemon iced tea can also be made with green tea instead of black tea. Use green tea bags in place of black tea bags.
- Add thinly sliced lemon into the glass as a pretty garnish.
- Adding fresh herbs like mint or basil will make the lemon iced tea brighter and more flavorful. Gently muddle the leaves to help release their flavor.
- This lemon iced tea can be stored in the fridge for up to 4 days.
- If the tea turns cloudy, add some hot water. It’s natural for the drink to look this way because tannins are released during the brewing process. It’s still safe to drink as long as you’re still in the 4-day window.
RELATED: 30 Refreshing Iced Tea Recipes
Questions You May Have
No, iced tea should not be left out overnight because bacteria will start to grow. If you have any tea leftover, store in the refrigerator for no more than 4 days.
Yes! Lemon iced tea is made with black tea, which is caffeinated.
Tea gets bitter when it’s brewed for too long or at the incorrect temperature. Make sure to steep the tea at the proper length of time and temperature for the best flavor.
Related
- Iced Black Tea
- Rose Iced Tea
- Sweet Tea
- Strawberry Iced Tea
- Starbucks Iced Green Tea Lemonade Copycat
- Starbucks Iced Passion Tango Tea Lemonade Copycat
- Starbucks Iced Black Tea Copycat
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Lemon Iced Tea
INGREDIENTS
- 2 black tea bags
- ½ cup hot water
- 2 tablespoons sugar
- 2 tablespoons lemon juice (juice from half a lemon)
- ½ cup cold water
- 1 cup ice
INSTRUCTIONS
- Put tea bags and ½ cup of hot water into a teapot.Boil water on the stovetop or use an electric kettle with a temperature setting. Set water temperature to 195°F.
- Cover and steep for 5 minutes. Discard tea bags.Steeping for longer will make the tea bitter.
- Stir in sugar until it dissolves. Add lemon juice and ½ cup of cold water.Place in the refrigerator for for 30 minutes to cool.
- Pour cooled down tea into a cup with ice.
NOTES
- Any black tea can be used to make lemon iced tea.
- This lemon iced tea can also be made with green tea instead of black tea. Use green tea bags in place of black tea bags.
- Tea bags or sachets make for quick and easy cleanup, but you can also use loose tea. Use 1 ½ teaspoons of black loose tea or 1 tea sachet instead of 1 tea bag.
- White sugar is used in this recipe, but you can swap in any sweetener you prefer.
- For the best tasting iced tea, use filtered water. Use filtered water to make ice as well if you can.
- Don’t oversteep the tea. Set a timer and brew the tea for no more than 5 minutes. The longer you steep black tea, the more astringent and bitter it’ll get.
- Instead of sugar, try a flavored simple syrup like ginger, mint, strawberry, peach, or hibiscus. Start with 1 tablespoon then add more to taste.
- Add thinly sliced lemon into the glass as a pretty garnish.
- Adding fresh herbs like mint or basil will make the lemon iced tea brighter and more flavorful. Gently muddle the leaves to help release their flavor.
- This lemon iced tea can be stored in the fridge for up to 4 days.
- If the tea turns cloudy, add some hot water. It’s natural for the drink to look this way because tannins are released during the brewing process. It’s still safe to drink as long as you’re still in the 4-day window.