This iced tea recipe uses Lipton black tea bags, water, and optional sugar and lemon to make a classic pitcher of cold tea. A short steep in hot water followed by cold water keeps the flavor balanced, so it’s easy to serve plain or sweetened over ice.
Ingredients
- 4 cups (946 ml) water, for heating
- 8 Lipton black tea bags (about 16 g loose tea equivalent)
- 1/3 cup (67 g) granulated sugar, optional; use less or more to taste
- 4 cups (946 ml) cold water
- 1 lemon (about 120 g), optional, for juice or slices
- 4 cups (about 560 g) ice, for serving
Instructions
- Heat the water. Bring 4 cups (946 ml) water to a boil in a medium saucepan or kettle, about 8 minutes. Take it off the heat as soon as it boils. There is no need to boil the tea bags in the water; steeping them off the heat helps keep the tea from tasting harsh.
- Steep the tea. Put the tea bags in a heatproof pitcher or large measuring jug. Pour the hot water over them and steep for 5 minutes. Set a timer: a shorter steep makes a lighter tea, while a much longer steep can bring out more bitterness and astringency.
- Sweeten while warm, if you like. Lift out the tea bags and let them drain briefly over the pitcher without squeezing. Stir in the sugar until it dissolves. Starting with 1/3 cup (67 g) gives a moderately sweet tea; for a less-sweet pitcher, begin with 2 tablespoons (25 g) and add more only after tasting.
- Dilute the concentrate. Pour in 4 cups (946 ml) cold water and stir. If using lemon juice, squeeze in a little at a time and taste; a whole lemon can make the tea quite tart. You can instead keep the lemon for serving so its bright flavor stays fresh.
- Chill. Cover the pitcher and refrigerate for at least 2 hours, until thoroughly cold. If the pitcher is still warm after mixing, use a heat-safe container in the refrigerator rather than leaving the tea out for an extended time. Stir once before serving, since any dissolved sugar can settle slightly.
- Serve over ice. Fill glasses with ice and pour in the chilled tea. Add lemon slices if desired. For the best flavor, pour tea over ice just before drinking rather than storing it in the pitcher with a large amount of ice, which melts and dilutes it.
Tips
- Keep the steep controlled. Five minutes is a useful starting point for Lipton black tea bags. If you prefer a stronger drink, use an extra tea bag next time rather than leaving the same bags in for a long time; that boosts tea flavor with less risk of a bitter finish.
- Do not squeeze the bags. Pressing them can release extra tannins and make the brew taste dry or rough. Lift them out with a spoon and let excess liquid drip back into the pitcher.
- Adjust sweetness in the concentrate. Sugar dissolves more easily while the tea is hot. If you want to make separate glasses with different sweetness levels, leave the pitcher unsweetened and stir sugar or simple syrup into each glass.
- Use a heat-safe container. Very hot liquid can damage some pitchers, especially thin glass or plastic. Brew in a saucepan or kettle and transfer to a heatproof jug, then add the cold water and refrigerate.
Serving Suggestions
Serve this tea very cold in glasses filled with ice, with a lemon wheel or a small wedge on the rim. If you like a more pronounced citrus note, squeeze a little lemon juice into each glass instead of adding it to the full pitcher. That lets everyone choose how tart their drink should be, and it keeps leftover tea from taking on a stronger citrus flavor as it sits.
For a simple pitcher presentation, add a few fresh mint leaves just before serving. Lightly tap the leaves between your palms to release their aroma, but avoid crushing them into the tea, which can make small pieces difficult to strain out. The tea also works well alongside sandwiches, grilled vegetables, picnic salads, and other casual meals. Keep the ice in individual glasses so the pitcher stays flavorful as people serve themselves.
Variations
- Unsweetened iced tea: Skip the sugar and serve the tea plain. Offer sugar or simple syrup on the side for guests who want to sweeten their own glass. Simple syrup blends readily into cold tea because the sugar is already dissolved.
- More or less sweet: For a sweeter pitcher, increase the sugar gradually, stirring it into the hot tea before adding the cold water. For a lightly sweet version, start with 2 tablespoons (25 g). Taste after chilling, since cold drinks can seem less sweet than warm ones.
- Lemon iced tea: Add a small amount of lemon juice to the pitcher, or let each person add juice to taste. Lemon slices make a nice garnish, but leaving slices in the pitcher for hours can make the flavor more bitter, especially where the peel and pith are exposed.
- Mint tea blend: Add 6 to 8 fresh mint leaves to the hot tea during the final 2 minutes of steeping, then remove them with the tea bags. Mint gives the brew a cool herbal note; steep it longer only if you want a stronger mint flavor.
- Peach iced tea: Stir 1/2 cup (120 ml) peach nectar into the finished, chilled pitcher and taste before adding any extra sugar. Nectar makes the tea fruitier and sweeter, so you may want to reduce or omit the sugar at the start.
- Make it stronger for extra ice: Use 10 tea bags with the same 4 cups (946 ml) hot water, keep the steep to 5 minutes, and still add 4 cups (946 ml) cold water. The more concentrated flavor stands up better to melting ice; avoid compensating by steeping for a very long time.
Storage and Reheating
Refrigerate the tea within 2 hours of brewing, in a covered pitcher or airtight container. Keep it cold and use it within 3 to 4 days for the best quality. If you added lemon juice or other fresh ingredients, the tea may lose its fresh flavor sooner; check its smell and appearance before serving and discard it if anything seems off.
Do not store the pitcher with ice in it. Melted ice weakens the flavor, so keep ice separate and pour the tea over it when serving. Lemon slices are best added to individual glasses or shortly before serving; remove any slices left in the pitcher after a few hours. Iced tea is intended to be served cold and does not need reheating. If you want warm tea, brew a fresh cup rather than warming a pitcher that has been repeatedly taken out and returned to the refrigerator.
For longer storage, freeze unsweetened tea in an ice-cube tray for up to about 2 months. Use the cubes in a fresh glass of iced tea so they chill it without watering it down. Do not leave brewed tea at room temperature for extended storage.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many Lipton tea bags do I need for a pitcher?
This recipe uses 8 tea bags for 8 cups (1.9 L) of finished tea, which makes a balanced pitcher. If you prefer a stronger taste, use 10 bags but keep the steep at 5 minutes. Tea bag size and personal preference vary, so you can adjust the next batch after tasting this ratio.
Can I make Lipton iced tea without sugar?
Yes. Leave out the sugar completely and chill the tea as directed. You can sweeten individual glasses later with sugar, honey, or simple syrup. Honey has its own flavor and may be slower to blend into a cold drink, so stir it into a small amount of warm tea first if needed.
Why does my iced tea taste bitter?
A long steep, boiling the tea bags, or squeezing them can make black tea taste bitter or drying. Steep the bags for 5 minutes in hot water that has just been taken off the boil, then remove them gently. If the finished tea is already too strong, add a little cold water and serve it over ice.
Can I brew the tea directly in cold water?
You can make cold-brew tea, but it uses a different method and takes longer than this recipe. Put tea bags and cold water in a covered container and refrigerate for several hours, tasting as it infuses; remove the bags when the flavor suits you. Cold brewing tends to give a gentler flavor, while this hot-steeped recipe is quicker to prepare before chilling.
Can I use this recipe for sweet tea?
Yes. The optional sugar makes this an easy starting point for sweet tea. Stir it into the hot concentrate so it dissolves evenly, then taste after adding the cold water. Increase the sugar gradually if you want a sweeter Southern-style pitcher; sweetness preferences differ, so there is no single amount that suits every cook.
Can I make the pitcher ahead?
Yes. Brew and chill it up to a day ahead, then keep it covered in the refrigerator and add ice only when serving. If you are adding lemon, mint, or peach nectar, add those close to serving time for a fresher flavor and easier adjustment. Keep any leftovers refrigerated and use them within 3 to 4 days.
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