Picture: Starbucks Black Shaken Iced Tea.  More info at Starbucks’ Website.

Subtle. Suave. Sophisticated. Our premium black tea gets a snappy little splash of citrus, and then is shaken – not stirred – with ice. We’d tell you more, but the details must remain classified. Still, you do have license to enjoy.

— Tazo® Black Shaken Iced Tea, Starbucks.com

Bitch, please.  Classified?  Ha!  Iced tea isn’t hard…

Why the hell am I blogging about this?  Because I see a lot of fools trying to make tea, and they all suck at it.  It’s not hard, but there is a way to do it right to get the crystal-clear, refreshing tea you’re used to seeing/drinking at Starbucks or McAllister’s.

Black Iced Tea, Proper

1. Boil 1 liter of water.
2. Cover 4 cup-sized black tea bags (Lipton will do just fine; Starbucks uses Tazo Awake tea, FYI) with 1 liter of boiling water.
3. Steep for four minutes.
4. If you love sweet tea, add 2 cups of sugar to the liter of strongly-brewed tea and stir until dissolved appropriately.* (note: this is how McAllister’s Sweet Tea is made)
5. Add 1 liter of cold water.  Do not refrigerate.  Refrigeration causes tea to go cloudy.  Cloudy iced tea is bad tea.
6. Pour a glass as follows
   1. Add equal parts tea and water
   2. Add ice
   3. Shake or stir
7. Drink that tea.

I prefer 1/3 tea, water, and ice.  Adjust to suit your tastes.

EXCITING FISCAL NOTE: this is roughly 12 cents per pitcher and pennies per serving, even if you buy Tazo Brand tea from Starbucks.

* Never assume that everyone likes black iced tea.  Sweeten your own tea with sugar or simple syrup.