Lemon Iced Tea

5 from 3 votes

See how easy it is to make the perfect glass of lemon iced tea at home using this simple 5-ingredient recipe that has the perfect balance of sweet and tart.

Prep Time2

Cook Time5

Total Time7

Course: Drinks

Cuisine: American

Servings: serving (16 ounces)

Author: Jee Choe

Equipment

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.
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.

Nutrition