Ingredients:<\/p>\n
4 cups water<\/p>\n
4 black tea bags<\/p>\n
1 cup fresh strawberries, hulled and sliced<\/p>\n
1 orange, sliced into rounds<\/p>\n
1 lemon, sliced into rounds<\/p>\n
\u00bc cup honey or sugar (optional, or to taste)<\/p>\n
Ice cubes (as needed, for serving)<\/p>\n
Fresh mint leaves (optional, for garnish)<\/p>\n
Directions:<\/p>\n
Continued on the next page<\/p>\n
Steep the Tea:<\/p>\n
In a medium saucepan, bring 4 cups of water to a rolling boil. Remove from heat and add the tea bags. Let steep for 5\u20137 minutes, depending on your preferred tea strength. A longer steep time will create a bolder flavor.<\/p>\n
Prepare the Fruit:<\/p>\n
While the tea is steeping, wash the strawberries, orange, and lemon. Hull and slice the strawberries, then slice the orange and lemon into thin rounds.<\/p>\n
Sweeten the Tea (Optional):<\/p>\n
Remove the tea bags from the saucepan. Stir in honey or sugar while the tea is still warm, allowing it to dissolve completely. Let the sweetened tea cool to room temperature.<\/p>\n
Combine in a Pitcher:<\/p>\n
In a large pitcher, mix the cooled tea with the sliced strawberries, orange, and lemon.<\/p>\n
Refrigerate to Infuse:<\/p>\n
Cover and refrigerate the pitcher for at least 1 hour. This allows the fruits to infuse the tea, deepening the flavor. For stronger fruitiness, chill for up to a few hours.<\/p>\n
Serve:<\/p>\n
Fill glasses with ice cubes and pour the chilled tea over the top.<\/p>\n
Garnish:<\/p>\n
Add fresh mint leaves to each glass for a burst of aroma and a beautiful presentation. Enjoy your refreshing homemade iced tea!<\/p>\n
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