Hard Ice 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

KATIE'S TWISTED TEA

Steps:

• Pour the lemonade into ice cube trays. Add 1 mint leaf to each cube. Freeze for at least 2 hours or overnight.
• Divide the lemonade ice cubes among 6 tall glasses. Pour the vodka over the ice cubes and top with Sweet Tea. Finish with a straw and a mint sprig.
• In a medium pot over high heat, bring 2 cups water to a boil. Take off the heat and add the tea bags. Steep the tea for 5 minutes, then remove the tea bags. Stir in the sugar until dissolved. This will be the concentrated base of your tea.
• Add the tea mixture to a pitcher filled with ice. Top off with 4 cups of water. Serve immediately or refrigerate, covered, for up to a week.

THE REAL LONG ISLAND ICED TEA

Steps:

• Fill a cocktail shaker with ice. Pour vodka, rum, gin, tequila, triple sec, and sour mix over ice; cover and shake. Pour cocktail into a Collins or hurricane glass; top with splash of cola for color. Garnish with a lemon slice.

MAKE PERFECT ICE TEA

Steps:

• Place tea bags and baking soda in a large heat resistant glass measuring cup.
• Add 2 cups of boiling water. Cover and steep for 15 minutes.
• Remove tea bags and pour tea into a 2 quart pitcher.
• Add 6 cups of cold water. If you have hard water, use filtered water or bottled water.
• For sweetened tea, put approximately 1 cup of sugar (adjust to taste) in 2 quart pitcher. Then pour tea concentrate from step 2, and after sugar has dissolved, add 6 cups of cold water.
• To avoid cloudiness, cool to room temperature before refrigerating.
• Garnish with lemon or mint and serve over ice.
• Store in refrigerator for up to 2 days.

EASY ICED TEA

Steps:

• Put the tea bags, sugar, honey and 1.5 litres water in a large jug. Leave to infuse for 10 mins, then remove and discard the tea bags. Chill until ready to serve.
• Stir in the lemon juice, lemon slices, orange slices and mint leaves. Fill the jug with plenty of ice and stir again.
• Fill tall glasses with ice and pour over the iced tea, then serve with extra honey to taste.