Easy Homemade Iced Tea Food

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

HOMEMADE PEACH ICED TEA

Steps:

• Bring 3 cups (750ml) water and the sugar to a boil in a pot. Add the peaches and vanilla bean (including the seeds). Simmer over medium heat for about 30 minutes.
• Discard the vanilla bean. Pour the peaches and syrup into a blender and puree until smooth. Strain the peach puree through a sieve into a pitcher.
• Bring 4 cups (1 liter) water to a boil in a small saucepan. Remove from the heat, add the tea and steep according to the package directions. Strain to remove the tea leaves, then add the tea to the pitcher with the peach puree. Stir to combine. Refrigerate until cold.
• The pulp from the fruit may have separated from the tea during chilling, so be sure to stir it before serving. Pour over ice cubes in tall glasses and garnish with vanilla beans.
• Cook's Note: When blending hot liquids, remove liquid from the heat and allow to cool for at least 5 minutes. Transfer liquid to a blender or food processor and fill it no more than halfway. If using a blender, release one corner of the lid. This prevents the vacuum effect that creates heat explosions. Place a towel over the top of the machine, pulse a few times then process on high speed until smooth.

EASY ICED TEA

Steps:

• Put the tea bags, sugar, honey and 1.5 litres water in a large jug. Leave to infuse for 10 mins, then remove and discard the tea bags. Chill until ready to serve.
• Stir in the lemon juice, lemon slices, orange slices and mint leaves. Fill the jug with plenty of ice and stir again.
• Fill tall glasses with ice and pour over the iced tea, then serve with extra honey to taste.

THE BEST LEMON ICED TEA

Steps:

• Place green tea bags and black tea bags in a 1-gallon glass jar. Pour boiling water over tea bags; steep for 30 minutes.
• Remove tea bags; stir in sugar and lemonade concentrate until dissolved. Fill jar to the top with cold water; stir in lemon juice. Chill in the refrigerator until cold. Serve over ice.