Homestyle Olive Garden Peach Iced Tea

Prepare the Peach Simple Syrup: In a small saucepan, combine the granulated sugar and 1 cup of water. Add the sliced fresh or frozen peaches. Bring the mixture to a simmer over medium heat, stirring occasionally until the sugar has fully dissolved.

Reduce the heat to low and let it simmer gently for 5-7 minutes to allow the peach flavor to infuse. Remove from heat and let the peaches steep in the syrup for at least 30 minutes (or longer for a richer peach flavor).

Strain the syrup through a fine-mesh sieve into a clean bowl, pressing firmly on the peach solids with the back of a spoon to extract all the liquid. Discard the peach solids. Set the peach simple syrup aside.

Brew the Tea: While the simple syrup is steeping, bring 4 cups of water to a rolling boil. Remove from heat and immediately add the black tea bags (or place loose leaf tea in a tea infuser). Let the tea steep for 5-7 minutes for a strong brew. Remove and discard the tea bags or infuser.

Combine and Chill: In a large pitcher, combine the freshly brewed tea and the prepared peach simple syrup. Stir well to combine. If you desire a more intense peach flavor, stir in the optional 1/2 teaspoon of peach extract.

Allow the tea to cool to room temperature, then cover the pitcher and refrigerate for at least 1 hour, or until thoroughly chilled.

Serve: Fill tall glasses with plenty of ice. Pour the chilled Homemade Olive Garden Peach Iced Tea over the ice. Garnish with fresh peach slices and lemon wedges, if desired, and enjoy!