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Iced tea is a favourite summer sipper and easy to make from scratch. You probably already have everything you need in your cupboards right now to whip up a tasty pitcher of iced tea. All it takes is a few tea bags, water and a bit of sugar and you are on your way. Making iced tea from scratch also lets you control the amount of sugar you use, or you can skip the sugar altogether and just add lemon for a tart, thirst-quenching drink.

1. Use enough tea bags
When foods are served cold, the flavours become dull. Use two tea bags for every 3 cups of water for best results.

2. Don't oversteep
If you prefer your tea stronger, use more tea bags rather than lengthening the steeping time which can make it bitter. For weaker tea, reduce the steeping time rather than taking away tea bags for better flavour.

3. Add sugar to hot water
If you sweeten your tea, add the sugar to the hot tea in order to dissolve the grains. If you prefer to sweeten your tea afterwards as per each persons taste, use a simple syrup rather than granulated sugar which will leave sugar grains in your glass.

4. Cool before refrigerating
Putting hot tea into a cold fridge will make your tea cloudy. Allow your tea to cool before you refrigerate.

5. Keep it real
Don't use artificial lemon or lime juice. Only use real fresh squeezed lemons and limes for the very best flavour.

6. Fresh is best
Iced tea tastes best when it is freshly made. Make only what you will drink in two or three days. It's easy to make, so don't worry about having to mix up another batch!

RECIPE

CITRUS ICED TEA

Ingredients:

• 6 ordinary tea bags
• 2 tbsp caster sugar
• 10 sprigs mint
• 300ml fresh orange juice
• juice 1 fresh lime
• 1/2 sliced orange, mint leaves and ice to serve

Method:

1. Make the tea with 1.2 litres water and the sugar. Add mint to the pot and infuse for 10 mins. Strain and cool.
2. Pour into a jug, stir in the juices and serve with orange slices, mint and plenty of ice.

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