Lemon iced tea

Steep black tea in freshly boiled water for 3–5 minutes, then remove the tea leaves or bag before it turns bitter. Stir in lemon juice and sugar while warm, cool, and serve over ice.

Yes. Add thin slices just before serving for a fresh citrus aroma; remove them after a few hours, as the white pith can make the tea bitter.

Keep homemade lemon iced tea covered in the fridge and drink it within 3–4 days. For the freshest flavour, add ice only when serving.

Its citrusy sweetness works well with spicy food, grilled chicken and fish, or salty snacks. Serve it cold alongside a meal or as a non-alcoholic drink at a barbecue.

If it is made with black tea, it contains caffeine; lemon and ice do not remove it. The amount varies with the tea and how long it steeps, while herbal-tea versions are usually caffeine-free.

This lemon iced tea has 7.4 g of sugar per 100 g, compared with 0.41 g in ready-to-drink lemon tea. Sweetened iced teas can differ considerably, so compare the sugar amounts when choosing one.