Iced Turkish Tea with Lemon and Mint
Strong-brewed Turkish çay chilled over ice with fresh lemon and mint—a brisk, refreshing summer take on the national drink.
Turkish tea is almost always served piping hot, but its strong, brisk character also makes a wonderfully refreshing iced drink for hot Black Sea summers. Brewed strong and chilled fast, the tea keeps its robust flavor even over plenty of ice.
Fresh lemon is a natural partner—Turks often add a squeeze to hot tea anyway—and it brightens the brisk tannins into something crisp and thirst-quenching. A handful of mint adds a cooling, fragrant lift that suits the warm weather.
The key is to brew the tea strong and concentrated so it doesn't taste watery once diluted by melting ice. A little sugar or honey, dissolved while the tea is still hot, balances the briskness without making it cloying.
Serve it in tall glasses packed with ice, with lemon wheels and mint sprigs, for a cooling drink that still tastes unmistakably like Turkish çay. It is the refreshing summer face of a tea usually enjoyed steaming hot.
Ingredients
- 4 tbsp loose Turkish black tea (or 4 tea bags)
- 2 cups boiling water
- 2 tbsp sugar or honey
- Juice of 1 lemon
- 2 cups cold water
- Fresh mint leaves
- Ice cubes and lemon wheels to serve
How to make it
- 1Steep the tea in the boiling water for 5 minutes for a strong, concentrated brew, then strain.
- 2Stir the sugar or honey into the hot tea until dissolved, then add the lemon juice.
- 3Pour in the cold water to cool and dilute, then chill in the fridge until cold.
- 4Fill tall glasses with ice, pour over the tea, and garnish with lemon wheels and fresh mint.
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