Sweet Tea
Cold-brewed sweet tea with lemon and mint is crisp, gently sweet, and exactly the pitcher drink to keep ready for warm afternoons.
Prep 10 min · Cook 5 min · Total 45 min · Makes 12 drinks
Ingredients
- 4 pitcher-size cold-brew tea bags, or 6 tablespoons orange pekoe tea leaves in a diffuser
- 3/4 cup granulated sugar
- Ice cubes
- 2 lemons, sliced
- Mint sprig, optional
Directions
- Add the tea bags to a large pitcher. Pour 3 quarts (12 cups) cold water over them, then leave the pitcher at room temperature for 30 minutes to steep.
- While the tea is steeping, combine 1 cup cold water with the sugar in a saucepan and bring it to a boil. Lower to a simmer and cook, stirring now and then, until the sugar is fully dissolved and the mixture has become a simple syrup.
- Lift the tea bags out of the pitcher and throw them away. Pour the sugar syrup into the tea and stir to combine.
- Pour the tea into glasses filled with ice, adding mint if you like. If you are using lemon slices, serve them separately so the juice can be squeezed into the glass and the slice can be removed, since leaving the pith in the tea will make it taste bitter.