Sometimes I make something for the first time and I wonder why it’s taken me so long to get round to it. Iced tea is one of my favourite drinks, especially lemon iced tea, but other than a passion fruit and jasmine version I concocted a few years ago I’ve not made my own since. I wanted to make some to take on a recent picnic as I thought it would be nice and refreshing in the late summer sun. Considering this only uses three ingredients, I used the very best ones I could: all organic and the tea I used had the wonderfully, British, charming name ‘Georgian Old Gentleman’.
Ingredients
You will need (for around 500ml):
- 3 tsp loose tea leaves
- 3 thick slices of lemon (organic if you can, otherwise you get a faint oiliness on the top of the tea when the wax melts off the lemon rind)
- 2 dsp caster sugar (organic if you can so it’s unrefined for a delicious caramel taste)
Method
Start by making the tea. Put three nice big teaspoons of tea into a pot (or heatproof jug) and add 500ml boiling water. Leave to steep for around five minutes before removing the tea leaves.
I have a snazzy teapot which makes the above stage very easy: I simply remove the middle of the teapot which contains the tea leaves. If you don’t have one of these just strain the tea through a sieve or tea strainer into another jug or teapot.
Add the lemon and leave everything until it has cooled.
Remove the lemon slices then stir in the sugar until it’s dissolved.
Cool in the fridge and then serve over ice. Or, as I did, pour it into a Thermos to keep cool and take it on a picnic.
It was as refreshing as I hoped it would be and it had the most fantastic unique twang because of the tea that I had used. Just the ticket to sip while sat on a log enjoying a picnic. I’ll definitely be playing around with different fruits and teas to experiment with lots of different flavours. I can’t believe how ridiculously simple it was to make; why has it taken me so long to make it again? I love that you can add the amount of lemon, tea and sugar that suits you. The recipe above is much less sweet than ready made iced teas that you can by, and that’s how I like it.
I much prefer homemade lemon ice trea, commercial stuff is too sweet.
It’s getting warmer here and a big jug of iced tea would be very welcome during the day! Thanks for the reminder! 😀
We make iced tea a lot — such a refreshing drink. Don’t make it with lemon nearly enough though — thanks for the inspiration!
Hi Caroline, homemade is always better, looks so refreshing.
Growing up, hot and cold lemon tea was a favorite of mine. I still love it but don’t make it nearly enough. This is a great reminder.
Well, look how delicious this iced tea look! I am a little bit addicted to lemon sauce, so I might have to use a little more of that in this! 🙂
This looks nice♥ Happy Friday ♥
There are very few flavors I like with my tea, but lemon is always a winner! So refreshing!!
The mixture of passion fruit and jasmine sounds flavorful and refreshing, the perfect combination for a tasty Ice Tea. I haven’t made iced Tea since I was a teenager, great recipe
‘Georgian Old Gentleman Tea’- I really like that name. It takes me back to another time and place- if I add the lemon flavors, everything would be just perfect!
Oh I love this! We have lemon tea in Italy.. hot and chilled. Tea with milk is almost unheard of. I love your recipe. Thank you!
I love drinking ice tea. Lemon is perfect in this. I think that this is the perfect drink.
Lemon iced tea is totally one of my favorites! I haven’t had it in ages, though…and now you’ve inspired me to make a pot this afternoon. YES! 🙂
This iced tea looks so refreshing and is something I need today — it’s going to be a hot one!
the Georgian Old Gentleman tea sounds interesting. I also prefer not too sweet a tea.
Homemade is always better! I like the idea of moderating the sugar to suit our individual tastes. It also costs less if we make our own and no wasteful glass to put in the recycles either! A winning recipe!
Homemade is always better! I like the idea of moderating the sugar to suit our individual likes. Plus if we make our own it costs less and no wasteful recycling to toss out either. A winning recipe!
It’s been too long since I’ve made iced tea. Love this version 🙂
I am a big fan of lemon iced tea, too. But it is getting colder in my area now and I think I have to say goodbye with this drink for a few months. Maybe I will try making a warm version for winter.
Anyway, your lemon iced tea looks good, Caroline. Thank you for sharing with us.