Sparkling Jasmine Iced Tea Recipe

How to Make Sparkling Jasmine Iced Tea

1. In a small saucepan, combine 1 cup of granulated sugar and 3/4 cup of water. Heat over medium heat, stirring constantly, until the sugar is completely dissolved and a light syrup forms.
2. Remove from heat and let the syrup cool completely.
3. In a separate heatproof pitcher or container, steep 4 Jasmine tea bags (or 4 teaspoons of loose leaf jasmine tea) in 3 1/4 cups of freshly boiled water for 6-8 minutes. Adjust steeping time to your preferred strength.
4. Remove the tea bags (or strain the loose leaf tea) and allow the tea to cool completely. You can speed up this process by placing the pitcher in an ice bath.
5. Once both the syrup and tea are cool, combine them in a large pitcher.
6. Stir gently to blend the syrup and tea thoroughly.
7. Add 2 cups of sparkling water to the pitcher.
8. Gently stir to combine. For best results, avoid excessive stirring to preserve the carbonation.
9. Refrigerate for at least 30 minutes to allow the flavors to meld. The longer it chills, the better it tastes!
10. Serve over ice in glasses. Garnish with cinnamon sticks, lemon slices, or fresh mint sprigs, as desired.