How to Make Refreshing Ice Cold Tea at Home and for Your Picnics

Summer days call for cool, refreshing beverages, and there's nothing quite like a glass of homemade ice cold tea to quench your thirst. 

Whether you're lounging in your garden or planning a picnic in the countryside, a chilled tea can be the perfect companion. 

Here's a simple guide to making delicious ice cold tea right at home, with tips to ensure it's perfectly refreshing every time.

Ingredients You'll Need

To make the perfect ice cold tea, you will need:

Tea bags: Choose your favourite variety. Black tea, green tea, fruit or herbal teas all work wonderfully.

Water: Freshly boiled water for brewing and cold water for chilling.

Ice cubes: Lots of ice to cool the tea quickly.

Sweeteners: Sugar, honey, or sweeteners to taste.

Lemon: Fresh lemon slices for a zesty twist.

Mint: Fresh mint leaves for added freshness.

Step-by-Step Instructions

1. Brew the Tea

Start by boiling water. For a litre of tea, you'll need about 4 tea bags. If you're making a larger batch, adjust the number of tea bags accordingly. Boil 500 ml of water and pour it over the tea bags in a heatproof jug or teapot. Let the tea steep for 5-7 minutes, depending on how strong you like your tea.

2. Sweeten the Tea

If you prefer your tea sweet, add sugar or your chosen sweetener while the tea is still hot. This ensures that the sweetener dissolves completely. Start with 2-3 tablespoons of sugar for a litre of tea and adjust to taste. Stir well until fully dissolved.

3. Cool the Tea

Once your tea has steeped and sweetened to your liking, remove the tea bags and let it cool to room temperature. You can speed up this process by placing the jug in a bowl of cold water.

4. Chill the Tea

Pour the cooled tea into a large jug and add 500 ml of cold water. This helps dilute the strong brew and cool it further. Then, add plenty of ice cubes. For an extra touch of flavour, add lemon slices and fresh mint leaves.

5. Serve

When you're ready to serve, fill glasses with ice cubes and pour the chilled tea over the top. Garnish with additional lemon slices and mint leaves if desired.

Tips for the Perfect Ice Cold Tea

Use high-quality tea: The better the tea, the better the final drink. Experiment with different types of tea to find your favourite.

Adjust sweetness: Everyone's taste is different, so feel free to adjust the amount of sweetener. You can also try different sweeteners like honey or agave syrup.

Infuse with fruits and herbs: For a fruity twist, add slices of fruits like strawberries, peaches, or oranges. Fresh herbs like basil or rosemary can also add a unique flavour.

Keep it cool: To keep your tea ice cold during a picnic, pack it in a thermos or an insulated jug. You can also freeze some of the tea in ice cube trays and add these to your drink instead of regular ice cubes to avoid diluting the flavour.

Perfect for Picnics

Ice cold tea is not only a fantastic home beverage but also a great addition to your picnic basket. It's easy to transport and can be enjoyed by everyone. Just make sure to pack enough ice and keep it in a cool place.

A Simple Recipe for Picnic Perfect Ice Tea

Ingredients:

1 litre of cold water

4 tea bags (black or green tea)

2-3 tablespoons of sugar or honey

Ice cubes

Slices of lemon

Fresh mint leaves

Instructions:

Boil 500 ml of water and steep the tea bags for 5-7 minutes.

Sweeten with sugar or honey while the tea is hot, then remove the tea bags.

Let the tea cool to room temperature, then add 500 ml of cold water.

Chill the tea in the fridge for at least an hour.

Before heading out, fill a thermos with ice cubes, add the chilled tea, lemon slices, and mint leaves.

Enjoy your refreshing drink at the picnic!

Ice cold tea is an easy and delightful way to stay refreshed during the hot summer months. With these simple steps, you can make a delicious beverage that's perfect for any occasion, from a relaxing day at home to an adventurous picnic. Cheers to staying cool!