Ingredients
Tea
- 4 plain black tea bags Standard individual tea bags, about 2 g each
- 4 cups water 960 ml, divided: 2 cups hot and 2 cups cold
- ice For serving
Optional additions
- 2 tablespoons granulated sugar Optional; 25 g
- 4 slices lemon Optional
Equipment
- Small saucepan
- Heatproof pitcher At least six-cup capacity
- Measuring cup
- Timer and spoon
- Four drinking glasses
Instructions
- Bring 2 cups (480 ml) water to a boil in a small saucepan. Remove the pan from the heat.
- Add the tea bags and steep for 3 to 5 minutes, following the tea's package directions where they differ. Remove the bags without squeezing hard. Stir in the optional sugar while the tea is warm.
- Stir in the remaining 2 cups cold water. Transfer to a heatproof pitcher and refrigerate until cold, about 1 hour. Chill promptly rather than leaving the tea out for an extended period.
- Divide among four ice-filled glasses. Add the optional lemon slices if desired. Cover and refrigerate leftovers; use within two days for fresh flavor.
Nutrition
Serving: 1cup, excluding optional sugar/lemon and iceCalories: 2kcalCarbohydrates: 0.5g
Video
Notes
Nutrition: Approximate for unsweetened tea. The optional 25 g sugar adds about 24 calories and 6 g sugar per glass.
Caffeine: Black tea contains caffeine; values depend on the tea and brewing. Decaffeinated does not mean caffeine-free.
Cost: Illustrative US$0.80 for four tea bags at US$0.20 each; tap water and ice excluded. Optional sugar and lemon cost extra.
Glassware: Use a heatproof pitcher; do not pour boiling water into ordinary cold glass.
Video: Howcast demonstrates a related method. The video mentions lemon, sugar and mint as additions. This recipe keeps sugar and lemon optional and chills the diluted tea before serving; mint is not included.
