Print

Homemade Citrus Iced Tea Recipe

Print Recipe

5 Stars 4 Stars 3 Stars 2 Stars 1 Star

4.4 from 2 reviews

This homemade Citrus Ice Tea is a refreshing, flavorful drink made by simmering a vibrant mix of oranges, tangerines, lemons, and optional pink grapefruit with a blend of teas and sugar. The result is a naturally sweetened, aromatic iced tea perfect for hot days, served chilled over ice and garnished with fresh citrus slices and herbs.

Ingredients

Citrus Fruits

  • 3 medium-sized Oranges
  • 6 large Tangerines
  • 4 medium Lemons
  • ½ Pink grapefruit (optional)

Tea

  • 8 Tea Bags (2 Rooibos, 4 Earl Grey, 2 regular black tea)

Liquid

  • 2 Litres Boiled Water (2000 ml, approx. 10 cups)

Sugar

  • 134 grams Granulated Sugar, divided into 3 portions:
    • 4⅔ oz (⅔ cup) — Sugar No.1
    • 2⅓ oz (⅓ cup) — Sugar No.2
    • 2⅓ oz (⅓ cup) — Sugar No.3 (to taste)

Instructions

  1. Prepare The Fruits: Gather all citrus fruits, remove any bad bits from the peel by trimming them off, then top and tail the fruits. Slice the fruits and carefully remove any seeds to ensure a smooth iced tea without bitterness from seeds.
  2. Boiling & Simmering: Place the tea bags and boiled water in a large cooking pot. Add the first batch of sugar (Sugar No.1 - 134 grams, 4⅔ oz, ⅔ cup) and stir to combine. Add the prepared fruit slices. Bring the mixture to a boil over medium-high to high heat. Once boiling, add the second batch of sugar (Sugar No.2 - 66 grams, 2⅓ oz, ⅓ cup). Maintain a rolling boil for 15 minutes, then reduce the heat and simmer gently for 30 to 45 minutes, or until the fruit slices soften significantly.
  3. Sieving Off: Remove the pot from heat and take out all tea bags. Add the last batch of sugar (Sugar No.3 - 66 grams, 2⅓ oz, ⅓ cup) to taste, stirring well until dissolved. Taste the tea and adjust sweetness by adding more sugar or honey if desired, keeping in mind the tea will dilute further when iced. Pour the tea through a fine sieve into a jug or bottles, pressing the fruit gently with a spoon to extract maximum juice. Discard the fruit peels responsibly (e.g. composting or recycling).
  4. Storing & Serving: Transfer the strained tea into airtight jars or bottles and refrigerate until chilled. When ready to serve, fill glasses with plenty of ice cubes to cool thoroughly and pour the chilled citrus ice tea over. Garnish with citrus slices such as orange or lemon, and optionally, a sprig of fresh rosemary for an aromatic touch. Store any leftover iced tea in the refrigerator and keep extra ice cubes ready in the freezer to serve multiple times.

Notes

  • You can adjust the sugar quantity in the last addition according to your sweetness preference as the tea dilutes with ice.
  • Feel free to mix different tea bags to create your preferred flavor profile.
  • Adding fresh herbs like rosemary enhances the aroma and provides a lovely garnish.
  • Discarding the fruit peels after brewing is recommended, but use composting if available.
  • For a stronger citrus flavor, allow the fruits to simmer longer until very soft.

Find it online: https://glowcooks.com/homemade-citrus-iced-tea-recipe/