Lemon iced tea, as refreshing as it sounds, has multiple benefits. Hence we can call it healthy in every sip. Summers are incomplete with a chilled glass of lemon iced tea showing up occasionally. And the best part is, these fruity drinks are super simple to make in just a few steps.
If you are about to make lemon iced tea at home then you are at the right place for the tips and tricks to prepare it. It is just a 10-minute recipe that you can enjoy anytime you want.
How To Make Iced Lemon Tea
Iced Lemon Tea Recipe: Stepwise instructions
With cafes and coffee stores budding up on every other street, it’s not hard to find lemon-iced tea as an evening delight. Some of them serve iced tea in fruity flavors as well. But what you can make at home with a special essence of Halmari Tea, is found nowhere else.
There are different variations of iced tea that you can make at home, like Mango iced tea, Peach iced tea, and so on. This time we will share some quick tips and steps to make the perfect dose of refreshing and cold lemon iced tea at home.
Ingredients for Lemon Iced Tea
You need just a few handfuls of ingredients to make lemon iced tea at home. These include
- Tea Powder( or Tea Leaves)
- Sugar as sweetener
- Freshly squeezed lemon juice
- And of course, ice.
How To Make Lemon Iced Tea: Simple steps to follow
1 Add 4 to 5 cups of water in a saucepan, based on the number of glasses that you are about to make.
2. Allow the pan to sit over medium heat so that the water eventually comes to a boil.
3. Turn off the heat as soon as the water begins to show bubbles on the surface. At this point add the tea powder. One or two teaspoons of tea powder is fine depending on how strong you want the flavor of the drink to be.
As an alternative, you can use black tea leaves or green tea leaves for this purpose.
4. Pour in ⅓ or ½ spoon of raw sugar or granulated sugar. If you do not prefer the sweet taste then you can try out ¼ spoon of sugar as well.
5. Mix everything thoroughly and allow the tea leaves to sit for about 4 to 5 minutes. If you want the flavors to be light then consider 2 to 3 minutes of resting stage.
6. Once the tea has steeped in the hot water for a while, it’s time you add three tablespoons of freshly squeezed lemon juice.
7. Stir the solution well with a spoon and then you can go ahead and strain the tea. Preferably, you should stain the tea in a steel container or glass jar.
8. Allow the lemon tea solution to sit at room temperature for about 30 minutes. For best results let it rest for 60 minutes. Once the drink has completely cooled down you can transfer it to the refrigerator.
The drink remains fresh for about 3 to 4 days in a refrigerator so you can make it during the weekends and enjoy it for a couple of days as the summer scorching heat takes over. However, once done, do not leave the lemon iced tea outside for long as it can eventually begin to ferment.
Quick Serving Suggestions
To give the ultimate touch of delight to your drink, right before you serve it, add some ice cubes to it. 4 to 5 ice cubes per glass will suffice but you can certainly add more if you want. 1 or 2 thin slices of lemon is also a good idea when you love the zesty essence.
Some prefer to have lemon tea but not add ice to it and that’s fine too. Garnishing can be done with sprig, lemon slices, or a few twigs of mint as well.
If you are serving the tea right from the refrigerator then there is no need for you to add ice cubes. But if you are including ice in your drink then make sure to drink it before the ice melts and the juice becomes diluted.
A tip for clear lemon iced tea
Often as we prepare lemon iced tea at home, some granulated ingredients or solutes in the drink might make it look murky. To avoid such a situation and enjoy lemon iced tea just as you do in cafes, we have a quick tip for you.
- Never over brew the tea. Either boil or steep in hot water to prepare the tea first. But never over-boil the tea. Follow the instructions on the packet if you are confused.
Benefits of having lemon iced tea
No matter which time of the day or what’s the occasion, lemon iced tea fits every mood. But that’s not the only reason you have lemon iced tea. You’d be intrigued to find out about the several benefits of sipping on a refreshing glass of lemon iced tea.
1 Combating depression and anxiety
Every day feels so stressful and hectic in this fast-paced world. A quick and cool glass of lemon iced tea helps to alleviate and keep our stress, depression, and anxiety at bay.
The drink consists of flavonoids and tannins that boost brain function and deal with negative emotions.
2. Smooth regulation of blood sugar level
Another major health benefit of having lemon iced tea is the regulation of blood sugar level. Lemon and tea extract aid in insulin secretion from the pancreas. The fresh brew also helps to increase the metabolism rate. Hormonal activities in the body are taken care of with just a few glasses of lemon iced tea once in a while.
3. Detoxification of the body
Regular consumption of lemon iced tea eliminates toxins and increases citric acid content in the body. Lemon can also boost your immune system. You can have iced tea on an empty stomach to acquire effective results like improved metabolic rate, faster removal of toxins from the liver, and improved digestive system.
Hence, lemon iced tea is not just a refreshing drink for the summer but also a beverage that benefits us in several different ways. So prepare yourself a glass of lemon iced tea today and enjoy the healthy sips with Halmari Tea.
4. Weight management
Containing pectin, lemon iced tea helps to keep your weight under check. This drink helps in boosting metabolism and promotes the burning of the excess fat deposited in the cells. If you are following a weight-loss regime then there is no way you can miss out on a glass of lemon iced tea.
5. Give a boost to the immune system
Vitamin C present in the beverage has the property of boosting the immune cells of the body and creating a defense against diseases. So enhance your natural immune mechanism with the consumption of lemon iced tea.
Bottom line
Lemon iced tea is low on calories and you can include it in your daily diet routine. Some choose to flavor their lemon iced tea with ginger enhancing the benefits of the beverage further. Include mint leaves and rock salt to escalate the taste as well as make it a healthy addition to your diet. Halmari Tea’s tea leaves can be your star ingredient to make a refreshing tumbler of lemon iced tea.