Best 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.

HARD ICE TEA

Steps:

• In a large pitcher, combine tea, lemon juice, and halves and whiskey, stirring to combine. Serve over ice and garnish with lemon slices and mint if desired. Makes about 12 servings.

ICED TEA I

Steps:

• Put tea bags in a 2 quart pitcher. Add hot water. Let sit at least 15 minutes. Add cold water and remove tea bags. refrigerate and serve over ice.