Make Ahead Iced Tea Concentrate
Iced Tea Concentrate is hands-down the easiest way to have a cold pitcher of tea ready at all times. Mix it up with different flavor combos, infuse with fresh fruit and herbs, or add in flavored syrups. Looking for a way to serve homemade iced tea at your next party, shower, rehearsal dinner, picnic, or BBQ? Look no further!
Servings: 8 (1 gallon of tea)
Calories: 4kcal
Ingredients
- 16 cups water divided (2 cups for concentrate, 14 cups for turning it into tea later on)
- 12 single size tea bags various flavors (see notes for flavor combination ideas)
Instructions
Sun Tea Concentrate
- Place 2 cups of water in a jar. Add the tea bags making sure to keep the paper tags out of the water. Screw on the lid tightly. Place in a bright sunny spot for 4-6 hours.
- Unscrew the lid and remove the tea bags, gently squeezing to remove excess liquid. Put the lid back on and store in the refrigerator for up to a week. When it is time to serve add the concentrate and 14 cups water to a gallon sized pitcher. Serve over ice.
Stove Top Tea Concentrate
- Place 2 cups of water in a pan. Heat water until it is almost boiling. Turn off heat and add the tea bags making sure to keep the paper tags out of the water. Allow to steep for 1-2 hours.
- Remove the tea bags, gently squeezing to remove excess liquid. Pour into a glass jar. Put the lid back on and store in the refrigerator for up to a week. When it is time to serve add the concentrate and 14 cups water to a gallon sized pitcher. Serve over ice.
Notes
Variation and Flavor Ideas:
Black Tea: 12 single sized black tea bags (or 4 family size bags)
Green Tea: 12 single sized green tea bags
Fruit Flavored Tea: 6 single sized black tea bags (or 2 family sized bags) + 4 single sized green tea bags + 2 single sized fruit flavored tea bags
Favorite fruit flavors: Cranberry pomegranate, Wild Berry Zinger, Citrus Sunrise
Simple syrup for sweetening - Heat equal amounts of water and sugar together until sugar is dissolved. Sweeten individual glasses of iced tea to taste.
Nutrition
Calories: 4kcal | Sodium: 24mg | Calcium: 14mg