Ingredients:

  • 8 standard black tea bags
  • 4 cups filtered water for boiling
  • 4 cups cold filtered water for diluting
  • 1/8 teaspoon baking soda
  • 0.75 cup granulated sugar
  • 1 large lemon, thinly sliced
  • 2 sprigs fresh mint

Instructions:

  1. Bring 4 cups of filtered water to a rolling boil in your saucepan. Once it hits that vigorous bubble, remove it from the heat immediately to avoid scorching the tea leaves.
  2. Submerge 8 standard black tea bags into the hot water. Let them steep for exactly 8 minutes. Do not squeeze or press the tea bags, as this releases excess tannins.
  3. Remove the tea bags or strain the loose tea. While the liquid is still hot, stir in the granulated sugar and 1/8 teaspoon of baking soda until fully dissolved.
  4. Pour the hot tea concentrate into a large 2-quart heat-proof glass pitcher. Add the remaining 4 cups of cold filtered water to temper the mixture.
  5. Allow the tea to cool to room temperature before refrigerating. Serve over ice with lemon slices and fresh mint sprigs.