Basic Sweet Tea Black Tea Recipes

PERFECT ICED TEA

Steps:

• Hot-Brewed:
• Bring 8 cups water to a simmer; remove from the heat and add 3 tablespoons loose tea or 6 tea bags. Let steep about 4 minutes, until it's the strength you like. Strain loose tea with a fine-mesh sieve or remove the tea bags. Let cool, then transfer to a pitcher, cover and refrigerate.
• Cold-Brewed:
• Combine 8 cups cold water and 6 tablespoons loose tea or 10 tea bags in a pitcher. Cover and refrigerate 15 to 36 hours, until it's the strength you like. Strain loose tea with a fine-mesh sieve or remove the tea bags.
• Sweet Teas:
• Combine 3/4 cup each sugar and water in a saucepan and add 1 infuser, if desired. Bring to a simmer over medium heat, stirring until the sugar dissolves, then remove from the heat and let cool. Strain the infused syrup through a fine-mesh sieve (you'll get about 1 cup).
• Orange Add 6 strips zest
• Blackberries 1 cup
• Cinnamon 2 sticks
• Lavender 3 tablespoons dried
• Vanilla 1 halved bean
• Mint 3 sprigs
• Ginger 1 cup sliced
• Lemon 8 strips zest
• Nectarine 1 cup chopped
• Cucumber 2 cups chopped

DON'S SIMPLE SWEET TEA

Steps:

• Bring water to a boil in a pot. Dissolve sugar in boiling water; remove from heat.
• Steep tea bags in water to desired strength of tea, 3 to 5 minutes.
• Refrigerate tea until cold, at least 1 hour.

BASIC SWEET TEA (BLACK TEA)

Steps:

• Put the ice aside in a container or pitcher that can withstand the hot tea without breaking and put it in the fridge while you're brewing.
• Bring the 40 oz. of water to a boil in a pot. Place the teabags in the boiling water, and allow them to brew for 2 to 3 minutes while the water boils. When the water has brewed to an oily, reddish-brown, appearance (after 2 to 3 minutes).
• Remove the tea bags from the pot, remove the pot from the heat and stir in the cup of cane sugar. It will dissolve almost instantly into the tea. Allow it to stand for a minute as your retrieve the container/pitcher.
• Carefully pour the brewed tea into the container. It will melt most of the ice instantly, evening out the temperature so that the tea does not damage the container. Chill the tea further before serving.

SWEET TEA

Steps:

• In a tea kettle or medium saucepan, heat 4 cups water until boiling. Remove from the heat and add the tea bags. Allow the tea to steep for 5 minutes. Gently squeeze the bags to release their concentrated tea, then discard the bags. Transfer the tea to a pitcher.
• Stir 1/2 cup sugar into the hot tea until it has dissolved. Stir in the lemon juice. Add 4 cups water, then fill the pitcher with 2 cups ice.
• Taste the tea to determine if you'd like to add up to 4 tablespoons more sugar. If adding sugar, stir until it dissolves.
• Cover and refrigerate until the sweet tea is chilled throughout or up to 2 days. Serve in a large glass filled with ice, and garnish with a lemon slice if you'd like.

BASIC SWEET TEA (GREEN TEA)

Steps:

• Put the ice aside in a container or pitcher that can withstand the hot tea without breaking and put it in the fridge while you're brewing.
• Heat the 40 oz. of water in a pot, but not to a boil. It should be able to produce steam, but should not be boiling (boiling water overbrews green tea). Place the teabags in the hot water, and allow them to brew for 1 to 2 minutes while maintaining the current heat (hot but not boiling). Do not let the tea brew too long or it will end up too bitter.
• Remove the tea bags from the pot, remove the pot from the heat and stir in the cup of cane sugar. It will dissolve almost instantly into the tea. Allow it to stand for a minute as your retrieve the container/pitcher.
• Carefully pour the brewed tea into the container. It will melt most of the ice instantly, evening out the temperature so that the tea does not damage the container. Chill the tea further before serving.