Name: Quick, Simple, Full-Flavored Iced Tea
Total time: 20 min
Yield: Serves 4 to 6 (Makes 1 1/2 quarts)
Ingredients: 5 tea bags of your choice; 1 quart spring water (see note); 1 - 6 tablespoons granulated sugar or natural cane sugar (depending on desired sweetness); 1 quart ice cubes (see note), plus additional cubes for glasses

Why This Recipe Works

We determined that a good iced tea recipe depended on doing a lot of little things right. The key to strong but not bitter flavor was water temperature. And unless the quality of your tap water is very, very good, spring water is the way to go; it produced tea with the freshest, cleanest, clearest look and taste. We found that a ratio of 5 teabags to 1 quart of water worked best in our iced tea recipe. The amount of sugar can be varied from 1 to 6 tablespoons, depending on taste.

Before You Begin

Depending on the quality of your tap water, you may want to use bottled spring water to make both the tea itself and your ice cubes. Doubling this recipe is easy, but use a large saucepan and expect the water to take a few minutes longer to reach the proper temperature. For a slightly stronger iced tea, reduce the amount of ice to 3 cups. Garnish with a thin lemon wedge to squeeze into the tea, if you like.

Instructions

Heat tea bags and water in medium nonreactive saucepan over medium heat until dark colored, very steamy, and small bubbles form on bottom and sides of pan (an instant-read thermometer will register about 190 degrees), 10 to 15 minutes. Off heat, steep for 3 minutes (no longer or tea may become bitter). Remove and discard tea bags; pour tea into pitcher. Stir in sugar, if using, until dissolved; stir in ice until melted. Serve in ice-filled glasses.