Substitute Iced Tea for Diet Soda

Looking for a healthy drink to replace your daily can of soda, which has recently been linked to an increased risk of developing metabolic syndrome? Try making a jug of iced tea, which needn’t be just a summer drink. You will need four tea bags—regular orange pekoe or green tea—along with cold, fresh, purified water.

1. Unwrap and carefully slide off any paper attached to the tea bag strings; tie the strings together and place the bags in a heat-proof 2-quart pitcher.
2. Bring 2 cups of cold water to a rapid boil. Remove from heat and immediately pour over the tea bags. Allow the tea to steep for 20 minutes or more.
3. Remove the tea bags, squeeze off any extra liquid (being careful not to tear the bags) and discard. Fill the pitcher with enough cold, fresh, purified water to equal 2 quarts.
4. Cover and refrigerate until chilled before serving.
5. To serve, pour the tea over a generous quantity of ice cubes in a tall glass, stirring in a small amount of sweetener, if desired, along with a squeeze of lemon.
6. For a variation, replace one of the tea bags with a flavored tea, such as ginger peach, blackberry sage or almond vanilla. Makes 8 servings.

Source: http://www.cooksrecipes.com/beverage/perfect-brewed-iced-tea-recipe.html.