Ice Chest Tea is the perfect drink to serve to a crowd. It’s refreshing and everyone loves it!
Looking for a great drink to serve at your next party or get-together?! Well, look no further. This Ice Chest Tea is a guaranteed hit. It’s sweet, citrusy and oh so refreshing!
Seriously, the way the sweetness of the sugar and the citrus of the oranges and lemons combines with the bitterness of the tea is so amazing!
We make it all summer long. Memorial Day, 4th of July, Labor Day, BBQs by the pool and every gathering in between, if you’re coming to a party with my family, you’re bound to be welcomed with a glass of ice chest tea.
We even have a designated ice chest just for ice chest tea. Nothing else can be put in this ice chest so we can serve the tea right out of it with a big ladle. Such a fun and convenient way to serve drinks to a crowd.
It’s so simple to make and is best if made at least a day in advance. The flavors just get stronger each day.
Enjoy!
xoxo,
Ice Chest Tea
- Prep Time: 20 mins
- Total Time: 20 mins
- Yield: 20+
- Category: Drinks
Description
Ice Chest Tea is the perfect drink to serve to a crowd. It’s refreshing and everyone loves it!
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
- 2–1/4 cups granulated sugar
- 1 gallon (16 cups) water
- 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
Instructions
- Add the 3 bags of crushed ice to a clean ice chest that holds at least 25 quarts.
- Dilute the instant tea in 1 gallon of water. Dilute the sugar in 1 gallon of water.
- Let the tea and sugar dilute while you slice the oranges and lemons.
- Add the diluted tea, diluted sugar, thawed lemon juice, sliced oranges and sliced lemons to the ice chest with the ice. Stir to combine. Let set or serve immediately.
Notes
It is recommended to make the tea one day in advance of serving, however, I usually make it the same day and it is still good.
It will keep well in the ice chest for about 3 days. You can add more ice if necessary.
This is a cute idea for a party!
Couple questions: recipe calls for 3 large bags ice but directions say 5 bags, which is it?
Recipe says frozen lemon juice but directions say frozen lemonade, which is it?
Hi Cara! Thank you so much for catching that. I just corrected the recipe. 🙂
I want some right now!!!!
MOM
Love this idea! Do you notice that you loose flavor as the ice melts? How long does this recipe holds it’s flavor?
Hi Ondia! The flavor of the tea is best the first 2 days and then it starts to gradually lose it’s flavor. Enjoy!
Looks great! Quick question… is it 1 gallon of water or 2? The recipe quantities call for 1 gallon of water, but the instructions say one gallon of water to dilute the tea and one gallon of water to dilute the sugar. Your guidance is appreciated! Many thanks!
Hi Jaime! 1 gallon of water is listed twice in the ingredients to make sure both the tea and the sugar are diluted. So 2 gallons total, but they’re separated in the ingredient list. Hope this helps clarify. Enjoy!
What is the frozen lemon juice? Is it a bottle that you buy frozen or do you buy the bottle and then freeze it?
Hi Sheila! It comes frozen. Here is the brand I use: https://www.minutemaid.com/products/frozen/premium-lemon-juice/