It's real iced tea made with green tea leaves. But it is also an infusion because there's more to brewed tea in this drink. This iced lemongrass tea is made by mixing green tea, lemongrass brew, sugar syrup and just enough kalamansi juice to cut through the sweetness. 

A few tips before mixing the drink. 

If using loose tea leaves (like I did), steep the tea in very hot (but not boiling) water for no more than five minutes. If you want a stronger brew, use more tea leaves but steep for the same length of time. Steeping tea in hot water for too long makes the drink bitter. I have read recipes with instructions to boil the leaves for ten minutes and let them steep for another twenty, and I cannot imagine how bitter the brew is. Prolonged boiling and steeping might work for herbs and leaves other than tea but with real tea leaves, four to five minutes are enough. 

I used loose green tea leaves but if you prefer the bolder flavors of oolong (a.k.a. black tea), go ahead and use that instead.

What about tea bags? You can use them too. Green tea with jasmine will make a very aromatic drink. Earl Grey is made with oolong tea.

For the lemongrass brew, I use a ratio of one lemongrass stalk (white portion only) per cut of water. Lightly pound the stalk to release the essential oils and flavors. Place in a pot, pour in the water, boil for about ten minutes then leave to steep and cool. Brews made with herbs like lemongrass do benefit from long steeping.

For the sugar syrup, simply boil together equal amounts of sugar and water until the sugar is dissolved. If you want a more pronounced lemongrass flavor in your drink, add a stalk of lemongrass, lightly pounded, to the water and sugar before boiling. Cool the sugar syrup before using.

See Also

Cold Drinks to Enjoy During Summer in Southeast Asia

How To Make Pandan-flavored Tapioca Pearls in Palm Sugar Syrup

Perfect for Summer: 3 Refreshing Grass Jelly Drinks

Ingredients

• 1 liter cooled green (or oolong) tea
• 1 liter cooled lemongrass brew
• sugar syrup, to taste
• kalamansi juice, to taste
• ice

• Prep Time: 5 minutes
• Cook Time: 15 minutes

• Total Time: 20 minutes
• Yield: About 2 liters

Preparation

1. Pour the cooled tea and lemongrass brew into a pitcher. Stir in enough sugar syrup to sweeten according to your preferred level of sweetness. 
2. Stir in kalamansi juice, one tablespoonful at a time, and tasting after each addition.
3. Add ice, stir and serve.
4. Tip: To add extra brightness to the flavors of the drink, stir in a tablespoonful of lightly pounded mint leaves to the drink before serving.