How to Make Quick and Easy Iced Tea

It's officially summer, which means it's iced tea season! Often times we don't have an hour to wait for a pot of tea to get to room temperature to chill and enjoy it over ice to cool down. Iced tea can also be enjoyed as a base for tea mocktails, cocktails, and iced lattes! Here's how to easily make a cup or small batch of iced tea to enjoy this summer and all year long!:

1) Use a little extra tea & let it steep a little longer.

• When making a single cup of tea, let's say 16 oz, use 2-3 teaspoons of the tea of your choice. Steep in 10 oz of 212 degree (rolling boil) water for 5-6 minutes. I prefer to use an infuser or place the tea directly in the water and strain with a fine mesh strainer.

2) To sweeten or not to sweeten???

• Always SIP BEFORE YOU SWEETEN! Some tea blends have a natural sweetness and you may not fell the need to sweeten. If you you plan to sweeten with cane sugar, honey, or agave syrup, do so while the tea is still hot. You can also use simple syrup to sweeten the tea after it has been iced.

3) Ice. Ice. And more Ice!

• Once the tea has completed steeping, pour over a 16 oz cup filled 3/4 of the way with ice and stir. The cup will feel cooler, but don't be fooled! Add more ice to fill the cup and make sure it stays ice cold. Enjoy!

4) Cold brew for a small batch of iced tea

• For our 2 liter Cold Brew Pitcher, I typically use 6-8 teaspoons of tea. Pour cool water into the pitcher and let it steep overnight for at least 8 hours.

Bonus Tips:

Add your favorite milk to make it an iced latte. You can also add some extra herbs or even fruit to the tea as it's steeping for an extra pop of flavor.