Ice Chest Tea: Your Ultimate Refreshing Drink for Any Gathering

Quench your thirst and delight your guests with Ice Chest Tea – a vibrant, sweet, and tangy beverage that’s incredibly easy to make. Featuring the bright zest of fresh lemons and oranges combined with your favorite tea, it’s the perfect refreshing drink to serve to a crowd, ensuring everyone finds a reason to smile.

The Perfect Blend: Sweet, Citrusy, and Incredibly Refreshing!

Are you on the hunt for a show-stopping drink that will be the centerpiece of your next party or casual get-together? Look no further! This Ice Chest Tea recipe is a guaranteed hit, promising a delightful balance of flavors that tantalize the taste buds. It’s not just a drink; it’s an experience – sweet, wonderfully citrusy, and oh-so-refreshing, especially on a warm day.

The magic truly happens when the subtle bitterness of the tea harmonizes with the lively tang of fresh oranges and lemons, all sweetened to perfection with sugar. This creates a flavor profile that is both complex and incredibly satisfying, making it an instant crowd-plepleaser. Each sip is a burst of sunshine, guaranteed to invigorate and refresh.

A Beloved Tradition for Summer Holidays and Beyond

This iced tea recipe isn’t just a drink; it’s a staple throughout our summer months, marking every festive occasion from Memorial Day to the Fourth of July, Labor Day, and countless barbecues by the pool. It’s the quintessential refreshment for any gathering, big or small. If you’re joining our family for a celebration, you can almost certainly expect to be greeted with a generous glass of our famous Ice Chest Tea. It has become a cherished part of our family traditions, a symbol of good times and togetherness.

We’ve even designated a special ice chest solely for this delightful tea. Nothing else is permitted in this chest, ensuring the tea maintains its pure, unadulterated flavor. Serving it directly from the ice chest with a large ladle adds a fun, rustic touch and is an incredibly convenient way to keep drinks flowing for a large group. It truly simplifies the hosting experience, allowing you to focus on enjoying your guests rather than continually refilling small pitchers.

One of the best aspects of this recipe is its simplicity and the fact that it benefits from being made in advance. While it’s delicious served immediately, the flavors meld and deepen beautifully if prepared at least a day beforehand. This allows the citrus notes to infuse more thoroughly into the tea, resulting in an even richer and more complex taste. The longer it sits, the stronger and more harmonious the flavors become, transforming it into an even more remarkable beverage.

Why Ice Chest Tea is Your Go-To Party Drink

Choosing Ice Chest Tea for your next event offers numerous benefits beyond its incredible taste. Its ease of preparation is a major advantage for busy hosts. With minimal effort, you can prepare a large batch that will satisfy many guests, freeing you up to enjoy the party. The convenience of serving it directly from a cooler means less fuss with individual glasses and more time socializing.

Furthermore, this tea is incredibly versatile. It’s family-friendly, appealing to both children and adults. For those who prefer an alcoholic kick, it serves as an excellent base for various spirits, transforming into a delightful cocktail with a splash of vodka, gin, or even a citrus-flavored liqueur. Its vibrant appearance, thanks to the colorful fruit slices, also adds a touch of visual appeal to your beverage station.

What Essential Ingredients Do I Need to Make Ice Chest Tea?

Gathering your ingredients is the first step to creating this delightful beverage. The beauty of Ice Chest Tea lies in its straightforward components, most of which are readily available. Here’s what you’ll need for this large-batch recipe:

• **Crushed Ice:** Three large bags of crushed ice are ideal. Brands like Sonic or Braum’s ice are perfect if available, as the smaller ice chips chill the tea quickly and provide a satisfying texture.
• **Instant Unsweetened Tea Mix:** Opt for a high-quality instant unsweetened tea mix, such as Lipton. This provides the classic tea base without the need for brewing large quantities of tea bags.
• **Water:** You’ll need a total of two gallons of water for diluting the tea and sugar.
• **Granulated Sugar:** Standard granulated sugar is used to sweeten the tea to your desired level. The recipe calls for a specific amount, but feel free to adjust to your preference.
• **Frozen Premium Lemon Juice:** One half (7.5 ounce) bottle of thawed frozen premium lemon juice, such as Minute Maid, adds a consistent, bright lemon flavor.
• **Fresh Oranges:** Four large oranges, cut into thick slices, contribute a lovely sweetness and a beautiful citrus aroma.
• **Fresh Lemons:** Four large lemons, also cut into thick slices, enhance the tartness and provide a classic iced tea flavor.
• **Clean Ice Chest:** A clean ice chest with a capacity of at least 25 quarts is crucial for mixing and serving this large batch of tea.

Tips for Ingredient Selection:

• **Fresh Citrus:** While frozen lemon juice is convenient for the base, don’t skimp on fresh orange and lemon slices. They add essential oils and visual appeal.
• **Tea Quality:** Even with instant tea, a reputable brand makes a difference in flavor.
• **Sugar Adjustment:** Taste your tea as you mix. Some prefer it sweeter, others less so.

Complement Your Spread with More Summer Grilling Favorites

Elevate your summer cookout from start to finish with a selection of my Summer Grilling Favorites. Whether you’re craving irresistible appetizers, crisp fresh salads and sides, perfectly grilled main courses, or tempting desserts – it’s all here to help you create a memorable outdoor feast. And of course, your Ice Chest Tea will be the perfect beverage pairing!

How to Effortlessly Prepare Your Delicious Ice Chest Tea

Making Ice Chest Tea is incredibly straightforward, perfect for those who want maximum flavor with minimal fuss. Follow these simple steps to create a refreshing beverage that will be the talk of your party:

• **Step 1: Prepare the Ice Chest.** Begin by adding the three bags of crushed ice to your clean ice chest. Ensure the chest has a capacity of at least 25 quarts to comfortably hold all the ingredients.
• **Step 2: Dilute Tea and Sugar.** In separate containers, dilute the instant tea mix in one gallon of water. Similarly, dissolve the granulated sugar in another gallon of water. Stir both mixtures thoroughly until the tea is fully dissolved and the sugar has completely melted.
• **Step 3: Slice the Citrus.** While the tea and sugar mixtures are diluting, take this time to slice your fresh oranges and lemons into thick, beautiful rounds. These slices will not only infuse their flavor but also add a visually appealing garnish to your tea.
• **Step 4: Combine All Ingredients.** Once the tea and sugar are diluted and your citrus is sliced, it’s time to bring everything together. Pour the diluted tea, diluted sugar, and thawed lemon juice into the ice chest with the crushed ice. Add all the sliced oranges and lemons.
• **Step 5: Stir and Serve.** Give everything a good stir to ensure all ingredients are well combined and the flavors begin to meld. You can let the tea set for a bit to allow the citrus to infuse, or serve it immediately. For best results, allow it to chill for a few hours, or even better, overnight.

Making Ahead and Storage Tips:

As mentioned, this tea tastes even better the next day! The flavors deepen and harmonize beautifully. It will keep well in the ice chest for approximately three days. If you notice the ice melting significantly, feel free to add more crushed ice to maintain its chilled perfection.

Ice Chest Tea

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• Author:
  Maegan – The BakerMama
• Prep Time:
  20 mins
• Total Time:
  20 mins
• Yield:
  20+ servings
• Category:
  Drinks

Print Recipe

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Description

Ice Chest Tea is the perfect refreshing drink to serve to a crowd. It’s sweet, citrusy, and everyone loves it!

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Ingredients

• 3 large bags crushed ice (like Sonic or Braum’s ice)
• 3/4 cup instant unsweetened tea mix (such as Lipton)
• 1 gallon (16 cups) water (for tea dilution)
• 2-1/4 cups granulated sugar
• 1 gallon (16 cups) water (for sugar dilution)
• 1/2 (7.5 ounce) bottle frozen premium lemon juice, thawed (such as Minute Maid)
• 4 large oranges, cut in thick slices
• 4 large lemons, cut in thick slices

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Instructions

1. Add the 3 bags of crushed ice to a clean ice chest that holds at least 25 quarts.
2. Dilute the instant tea in 1 gallon of water. Separately, dilute the sugar in 1 gallon of water. Stir each mixture until fully dissolved.
3. While the tea and sugar are dissolving, slice your oranges and lemons into thick rounds.
4. Add the diluted tea, diluted sugar, thawed lemon juice, sliced oranges, and sliced lemons to the ice chest with the ice. Stir gently to combine all ingredients. Let set or serve immediately.

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Notes

It is highly recommended to prepare the tea one day in advance of serving to allow the flavors to deepen and meld. However, it is still delicious if made and served on the same day.

The tea will keep well in the ice chest for approximately 3 days. Feel free to add more ice as needed to keep it perfectly chilled.

We absolutely love seeing how inspired and creative you get with the ideas we share. Enjoy this fantastic Ice Chest Tea, and happy entertaining!

xoxo,