Vietnamese Iced Tea
Why this recipe works
- Fast to make: A short steep and simple cooling step keep the method quick without flattening the tea flavour.
- Clean sweetness: Adding sugar while the tea is warm helps it dissolve evenly, giving the drink a smooth finish rather than a gritty or overly sweet one.
- Refreshing finish: Cooling the tea before pouring it over ice keeps the drink bright and brisk without excessive dilution.
Get the most out of this recipe
Timing notes
- Serve over fresh ice: Pour the cooled tea over ice just before serving so the flavour stays clear and concentrated.
- Let it cool first: Allowing the tea to reach room temperature before serving prevents the ice from melting too quickly.
Ingredient notes
- Choose a robust black tea: A full-flavoured dried black tea gives the drink its brisk character and holds up well once chilled.
- Adjust sweetness to taste: Granulated sugar dissolves best while the tea is still warm; if sweetening after chilling, a liquid sweetener such as agave blends in more easily.
Make-ahead tips
- Make the tea in advance: The sweetened tea can be kept covered in the fridge for up to 2 days before serving.
- Keep the ice separate: Store the tea without ice and pour it over fresh cubes when ready to serve to avoid dilution.
Equipment you'll need
Ingredients
Instructions
- Bring the water to the boil in a small saucepan. Remove from the heat, add the black tea, and steep for 4 minutes for a strong brew. Strain into a heatproof jug.
- Stir in the sugar until fully dissolved. Leave the tea to cool to room temperature so it does not melt the ice too quickly.
- Fill a glass with the ice cubes. Pour the cooled tea over the ice and serve straight away.
Recipe notes
Tips
- For a cleaner tea flavour, do not steep the tea longer than 5 minutes, as it can turn bitter.
- If you want it colder faster, pour the strained tea into a wide jug to cool more quickly before serving over ice.
Substitutions
- Replace Granulated sugar with Agave syrup for a lighter sweetness that dissolves easily in cooled tea.
Storage
- Refrigerate up to 2 days
- Store the sweetened tea (without Ice cubes) in a covered jug in the fridge for up to 2 days. Serve over fresh Ice cubes; if the tea has been chilled, give it a quick stir before pouring.
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Recipe overview
- Servings: 1 glasses
- Total time: 10min (5min active)
- Difficulty: Easy
- Cuisine: Vietnamese
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