Iced tea is the undisputed favourite of hot summer days — but the ready-made versions on the supermarket shelf are loaded with sugar and always taste the same. Home-made iced tea takes 5 minutes, costs far less per glass, and leaves the sweetness entirely in your hands. Here are the brewing tricks and 4 tested recipes.
How Is Iced Tea Made? The Basic Formula
The formula for a good iced tea is simple: strong brewed tea + flavour + ice. The ratios:
- 3 tea bags (or 3 teaspoons of loose leaf) black tea per 1 litre of water
- 5 minutes brewing — any longer and the tea turns bitter
- 20–30 ml per glass of iced tea syrup
- Plenty of ice (at least half the glass)
The critical trick: let the tea come down to room temperature after brewing, and never pour hot tea over ice. Hot tea melts the ice instantly and the drink ends up watery. If you are in a hurry, brew the tea at double strength in half the water and pour that concentrate over the ice.
4 Tested Iced Tea Recipes
1) Peach Iced Tea (the classic)
Add 25 ml of peach-flavoured iced tea syrup per glass to cold-brewed black tea, stir and serve over ice. Garnish with a slice of fresh peach or orange. There is a reason this is the most sought-after iced tea flavour in Türkiye.
2) Lemon Iced Tea
Black tea + lemon-flavoured syrup + the fresh juice of half a lemon. Adding fresh lemon pulls the flavour away from that "ready-made drink" taste and sharpens the refreshment. Serve with a mint leaf.
3) Green Tea Iced Tea
Brew green tea for 3 minutes in water at 70–80°C (boiling water makes it bitter). Pair it with apple or yuzu syrup for a light, sophisticated alternative. Yuzu puree makes a version worth featuring as a premium line on a café menu.
4) Watermelon Iced Tea (summer special)
Add watermelon-flavoured syrup to cold black tea and give it a short blitz in the blender with a handful of fresh watermelon cubes. Serve with a sprig of thyme — it makes a picture worth posting.
The Sugar-Free Alternative
For anyone watching the calories, the answer is ready: the sugar-free syrup range lets you make exactly the same recipes with zero sugar. The sweetener-based formulation gives nothing away on refreshment.
For Cafés: Why Iced Tea Belongs on the Menu
Through the summer season, iced tea carries sales in the hours when espresso-based drinks drop away (12:00–17:00). Cost per glass is low, preparation takes under a minute, and working with syrup means every glass hits the same standard. To create your own signature drink, layer syrups with bar sauces to build something of your own; for inspiration, see our 6 refreshing mocktail recipes as a starting point.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long does iced tea keep?
Brewed tea with no syrup added keeps for 2–3 days in the fridge. Adding the syrup at the moment of service keeps it tasting fresh.
Which tea suits iced tea best?
Balanced Ceylon-style black teas give the best result. Earl Grey, with its bergamot note, stands out in lemon recipes.
Does cold brewing make a difference?
Yes. Brew the tea in room-temperature water in the fridge for 6–8 hours and no bitterness develops at all; you get a softer, clearer drink.
Make your own iced tea this summer. For the full range of flavours, see the Iced Tea Series syrups today.
