Iced tea is a refreshing summer drink that is easy to make at home. You can adjust the balance to your taste: more fruit makes it sweeter, while more tea gives it a stronger flavor. This recipe combines green tea and green apple.
Ingredients and proportions
You will need one 15 ml measure of loose-leaf green tea or 5 green tea bags, 1 large green apple, 1 cinnamon stick, a few slices of fresh ginger, and a few fresh mint leaves. Scale the ingredients proportionally for the number of servings. A red apple can replace the green apple, though the green apple's tartness pairs well with green tea. Ginger adds a sharper flavor, so start with a small amount.
Brew and chill
Steep the green tea in 1 liter of water for about 10–15 minutes. Let the water cool slightly, then add the sliced apple while it is still warm so the apple flavor infuses into the tea. Add the cinnamon stick and ginger slices, then refrigerate the mixture. Let it chill overnight. The next day, serve it over plenty of ice with fresh apple slices and mint leaves.
Make tea ice cubes
Pour some of the prepared tea into ice cube trays and freeze it. Add these cubes instead of regular ice so the drink does not become diluted as the cubes melt. This is especially useful when iced tea sits on the table on a hot day. Regular ice can make it lose flavor after a few hours, while tea ice cubes help it keep its balance to the last sip.
Try other fruit and spice combinations
Try seasonal fruits such as peaches, strawberries, or watermelon instead of green apple; each changes the tea's color and flavor. Add lemon or tangerine slices at serving time rather than while the tea steeps, since citrus added earlier can make the tea bitter. You can also replace cinnamon with cardamom or cloves, using less because their flavors are stronger.
Serving ideas
Serve the tea in wide-mouth glasses so the apple slices and mint leaves remain visible. For a pitcher, add a few fresh apple slices to refresh its appearance and aroma. For a group, prepare the tea in a large jar so guests can pour it into their own glasses over ice.
How to make it unsweetened or lightly sweetened
You can make iced tea without sugar; the fruit can provide most of the sweetness, with an optional one 5 ml measure of honey. Add the honey after the brewed tea has cooled to lukewarm so its aroma is preserved and the flavor stays balanced. For a lightly sweetened version, slice the apple thinly and leave it in the tea for a few hours. The longer it steeps, the more sweetness the apple releases, reducing the need for added sugar.