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–+ servings

Chilled Apricot Iced Tea

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A quick, fruity iced tea made with black tea, apricot juice, and fresh lemon juice. It comes together in just 5 minutes with no chilling time required — steep, stir, and pour straight over ice. The result is a refreshing drink with real apricot flavor and a brisk tea backbone that keeps it from tasting overly sweet.
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Cook Time 5 minutes
Total Time 5 minutes
Servings: 1 serving
Course: Drinks
Cuisine: American
Ingredients Equipment Method Notes

Ingredients
  

  • 2 black tea bags
  • 1/3 cup water
  • 1 tablespoon sugar
  • 3/4 cup apricot juice not nectar
  • 1 teaspoon fresh lemon juice
  • 1 cup ice

Equipment

  • Small pot or kettle
  • Glass
  • Stirring spoon

Method
 

  1. Heat 1/3 cup of water to 195°F (just below a full boil) in a small pot or kettle. Add both black tea bags and steep for exactly 5 minutes — no longer, or the tea will turn bitter. Remove the bags and set the brewed tea aside to cool briefly.
  2. While the tea is still warm, add the sugar and stir until it is fully dissolved. Then pour in the apricot juice and fresh lemon juice and stir to combine. Taste and add a little more lemon juice if you'd like a brighter, more balanced flavor.
  3. Fill a glass with the ice and pour the tea mixture over the top. Stir gently to distribute the flavors evenly, then serve immediately for the best taste and texture.

Notes

Steep the tea bags for exactly 5 minutes — over-steeping pulls out harsh tannins that clash with the fruity flavors. Always dissolve the sugar while the tea is still warm; adding it once the liquid is cold will leave a grainy texture. Use apricot juice rather than apricot nectar, since nectar is thicker and sweeter and makes the drink feel heavy rather than refreshing. If you want to make a batch ahead of time, mix the tea, sugar, apricot juice, and lemon juice together and refrigerate for up to 1 day, then pour over fresh ice just before serving. Leftover tea mixture (without ice) keeps in a sealed container in the fridge for up to 2 days, though the lemon brightness fades over time.

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