1) Ingredients: 1 cup (240 ml) water, 1 cup (200 g) granulated sugar, 2 tablespoons loose green tea (or 2–3 tea bags), optional 1 tsp fresh lemon juice or 1/8 tsp citric acid for brightness/preservation. 2) Heat the water until steaming and just off a boil (ideally ~175–185°F / 80–85°C). Remove from heat. 3) Add the green tea leaves or tea bags and steep 2–3 minutes (taste at 2 minutes; steep longer only if you need more strength but beware bitterness). 4) Strain tea leaves (or remove tea bags) and gently press to recover liquid. 5) Return the infused tea to low heat, add the sugar, and stir until fully dissolved. Do not boil vigorously — just warm enough to dissolve the sugar. 6) Remove from heat and, if using, stir in lemon juice or citric acid. Cool to room temperature. 7) Transfer to a sterilized bottle or jar, seal, and refrigerate. Label with date. Use within recommended shelf life; discard if cloudy, fermented, or off-smelling.