Fresh Lemon Iced Tea
Updated Feb 25, 2025
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Make the perfect glass of refreshing lemon iced tea at home with 5 ingredients. Get brewing tips from a Tea Sommelier so the tea is never bitter.
Lemon Iced Tea from Scratch
My lemon iced tea recipe combines brisk black tea, fresh lemon juice, and sugar to make a bold and thirst-quenching drink that has the perfect balance of sweet and tart.
The method I used to make this drink is to brew black tea in hot water, then cool it down. To prevent the tea from tasting bitter, I make sure the black tea is steeped at the right water temperature for no more than 5 minutes. (I always add the steep time and water temperature in all my recipes.)
Note from Jee
I absolutely love fresh squeezed lemons in iced tea in the summer. To make this drink, I’ll usually use English breakfast tea, Earl Grey, or Assam tea.
Did you know every company creates their own English breakfast tea? I always look at the ingredient list for English breakfast to see which black teas they use and that’s how I found out some just put Assam tea and label it English breakfast tea.
You can’t go wrong with using any kind of black tea you have on hand, including Lipton tea bags!
Recipe Summary
- This lemon iced tea is a cool, brisk beverage made with black tea, lemon juice, sugar, water, and ice. It’s a caffeinated drink.
- Black tea is brewed hot and made into a tea concentrate so that the tea will cool down quickly.
- The recipe makes a 16 ounce (2 cups) drink.
RELATED: 30 Refreshing Iced Tea Recipes
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 flavor.
- Sugar: White sugar is used in this recipe, but you can use any sweetener you prefer.
- Water: For the best tasting iced tea, I always use filtered water.
- Ice: Use filtered water to make ice if you can.
For full ingredients and detailed instructions, please see the recipe card at the bottom of the post.
Step-by-Step Instructions
Step 1: 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.
Step 2: Remove tea bags and stir in sugar. Make sure sugar is completely dissolved.
Step 3: Add lemon juice and cold water. Chill tea in the refrigerator.
Step 4: Pour tea into a cup with ice.
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 tablespoon of loose black tea instead of the 2 tea bags.
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
- This lemon iced tea can also be made with green tea instead of black tea. Use a green tea bag in place of a black tea bag.
- 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.
- The 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.
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Lemon Iced Tea
Ingredients
- 2 black tea bags, (or 1 tablespoon loose black tea)
- 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.
- White sugar is used in this recipe, but you can swap in any sweetener you prefer.
- 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.
- 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.
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
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