Earl Grey Iced Tea

Instructions

1. Brew the tea
   Bring 4 cups of water to a boil in a medium saucepan. Remove from heat and add tea bags. Allow to steep for 5-7 minutes, depending on your desired strength. Remove tea bags, gently squeezing out excess liquid.
2. Sweeten while hot
   While the tea is still hot, add honey or sugar and stir until completely dissolved. If using lavender buds, add them now and allow to infuse for 2-3 minutes before straining.
3. Add citrus and vanilla
   Stir in the freshly squeezed juice from one lemon (about 2-3 tablespoons) and the lemon zest. If using vanilla extract, add it now and stir to combine.
4. Dilute and chill
   Add the remaining 2 cups of cold water to the tea mixture and stir. Transfer to a large pitcher and refrigerate for at least 3 hours or until thoroughly chilled.
5. Serve and garnish
   Fill tall glasses with ice cubes. Pour the chilled tea over the ice, and garnish each glass with lemon slices, orange slices, and fresh mint leaves. Serve immediately.