Homemade iced tea and lemonade: how to make them

When the heat strikes, there's not much that beats a jug of something cold and refreshing. Iced tea and lemonade might sound like two completely different drinks, but they're both built on a simple principle: a base, a bit of sweetness and plenty of ice. Here's how to make both, without fixed measurements, because it's about tasting your way there, and afterwards you can play with variations and mix the two together.

The short answer to how you make iced tea and lemonade

Iced tea is a drink made from cooled tea, ideally with ice cubes in the glass. The simplest version is made by brewing a strong black tea, for example Darjeeling, sweetening it while it's still hot, cooling it down and serving it with a couple of slices of lemon. Green teas and herbal teas can also be used as a base if you want a different flavour.

Lemonade is something else, namely a mixture of lemon juice, water and a sweetener. There's no fixed recipe with fixed amounts, because the ratio of acidity, water and sweetness is a matter of taste. Start small, taste as you go, and adjust along the way until the balance suits you.

How to make iced tea step by step

The starting point for iced tea is traditionally black tea, which is brewed hot and then cooled quickly. The quick cooling is important, because if the tea sits and steeps for too long at a high temperature, it can develop a bitter taste. The sweetener is added while the tea is still hot, so it has time to dissolve completely before the tea is set to cool.

Once the tea is cold, it's poured into a glass with ice cubes and a slice of lemon or a sprig of peppermint, which both decorates and adds a fresh touch. You don't have to stick to black tea. Green tea and herbal tea also work well as a base, and iced tea is often served together with fruits such as peach, strawberry or raspberry, either in the glass or on the side.

Fridge tea or sun tea, what's the difference?

Ordinary tea typically steeps for around five minutes at a temperature between 80 and 100 degrees. Sun tea is made in a completely different way, namely by letting the tea steep for a long time in the sun at a lower temperature. The problem is that the temperature in sun tea never gets high enough to kill any bacteria in the water or tea.

That's why fridge tea is a good alternative. Here, you let the tea steep in the fridge overnight. The low temperature prevents bacterial growth, and as a bonus, the tea is already cold when it's ready, so you don't even need ice to cool it down. If you want to make cold-brewed tea with fruit or herbs, it's worth knowing that this method is generally not recommended for that kind of tea, because of the risk of impurities.

How to make lemonade from scratch

Lemonade, in its most classic form, is a drink without carbonation, made from lemon juice, water and a sweetener. The sweetener can vary. Some use ordinary cane sugar directly, others prefer sugar syrup, maple syrup or honey, because it dissolves more easily in cold liquid.

If you want to make your own sugar syrup, the principle is simple: sugar and water are mixed in a ratio of 1:1 measured by volume, and a stronger version can be made in a ratio of 2:1. Heat the mixture until the sugar has dissolved, and let it cool before using it. You can also add juice from other citrus fruits or berries, and crushed fruit if you want a fuller lemonade. Taste your way through the ratio of lemon juice, water and sweetness until you hit the balance you like.

Variations of iced tea and lemonade you can try

• Iced tea with peach, strawberry or raspberry added as fruit in the glass or steeped along with the tea.
• Iced tea with a hint of peppermint instead of, or together with, lemon.
• Limonana, which is lemonade made with freshly squeezed lemon juice and mint leaves.
• Pink lemonade, which gets its colour from extra fruit juice, for example cranberry, or from a syrup made of rhubarb, raspberry, strawberry or cherry.
• Citron pressé, the French version, where the guest gets lemon juice, syrup and water served separately and mixes the drink to taste themselves.

Here's an overview of the variations of iced tea and lemonade you can try.

Iced tea and lemonade together: half and half

Sometimes the answer isn't either or, but both. Half and half is, as the name suggests, a mix of iced tea and lemonade, and the drink also goes by the name Arnold Palmer, named after the golfer. He himself preferred a mix of two parts iced tea to one part lemonade, but here, as elsewhere, it's a matter of taste, so mix your way to your own ratio.

How to serve iced tea and lemonade nicely

Once the drinks are made, the rest is all about serving. A large jug with plenty of ice keeps the temperature down even when the sun is at its highest, and a few slices of lemon in the jug improve both the taste and the look. Keep a lemon squeezer close at hand, so you can easily press more lemon juice for the lemonade or for an extra glass of iced tea along the way.

Want to know more about which jug suits which occasion? You can read Jugs for every occasion: From coffee to cocktails. And if you want to keep your lemons fresh for as long as possible before they end up in the glass, there's good advice in How to store lemons so they last longer.

Frequently asked questions

How do you make iced tea?

Brew a strong black tea, sweeten it while it's hot, and cool it down quickly. Serve it cold with ice cubes and a slice of lemon or peppermint.

Can you make iced tea with green tea?

Yes, green tea and herbal tea can also be used as a base for iced tea instead of black tea, and the principle of sweetening and quick cooling is the same.

How do you make homemade lemonade?

Mix lemon juice, water and a sweetener such as sugar, sugar syrup, honey or maple syrup, and taste your way to the balance you like.

How do you make sugar syrup for lemonade?

Heat sugar and water in a ratio of 1:1 for a regular syrup or 2:1 for a stronger one, until the sugar has dissolved, and let it cool before use.

Is it dangerous to make sun tea?

Sun tea draws at low temperature in the sun, which never gets hot enough to kill any bacteria. For this reason, fridge tea is suggested instead.

What is an Arnold Palmer?

It's a mix of iced tea and lemonade, also known as half and half. Golfer Arnold Palmer himself preferred two parts iced tea to one part lemonade.

Summary

Iced tea and lemonade are both built on simple principles: a good base, sweetness added to taste, and a cold serve with plenty of ice. Let the tea steep in the fridge rather than in the sun, use a simple sugar syrup for the lemonade, and feel free to play around with fruit, mint, or a mix of the two drinks. The right tool, like a jug and a lemon squeezer, does the rest of the work for you.

Read also

• Jugs for every occasion: From coffee to cocktails
• How to store lemons so they last longer
• The difference between a jug and a carafe
• Garden party decor: table, lights and garden for the summer party
• Sangria: ingredients, method and serving
• How to make tea: water temperature and steeping time