Brewed Iced Tea

Iced Tea is an art. I'm pretty picky about my tea because I grew up knowing how to spare the flavor of the tea in the brewing and icing process. Also, one of the foremost points to remember is that hot tea poured over ice never clouds, adding tepid or cold water to the brewed hot tea clouds every time.

This is such a simple process, but most young people have no idea. Many restaurants are clueless, and if you tell someone this tidbit of information, they'll usually look at you like you're nutty and ignore the conversation altogether, because it doesn't make sense.

Here's my step-by-step process.

1. Heat cold water to just before boiling. (You can put the tea bags in at any time.) 1 tea bag for each 8 ounces of water

2. Remove the tea bags after steeping for several minutes. The tea will be very dark if you're using black pekoe tea.

Note: If you're using other teas, flavored, green, organic, etc. you'll have to experiment some.

3. Pour the hot brew over about 12 ice cubes to chill, in a bowl or small pitcher.

4. Fill glasses with ice, add about 1/2 full with cold water, then pour in the brewed tea. TOTALLY CLEAR and Pure Taste

Another Note: If you prefer sweet tea just before step 3 add a good amount of sugar and stir until dissolved - sugar dissolves easiest in the hot tea, or falls to the bottom of a cold glass of tea and never really mixes.

5. Add a lemon or my preference a lime, and artificially sweeten to taste.

You're a Master Ice Tea Maker

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Hints:

I have a container I use in the microwave to heat the water, 6 cups, 6 tea bags, 6 minutes

I have a container I use to chill the tea, a plastic pitcher.

I have a very tall plastic glass I use to serve my tea, holds about 15 ice cubes, fill it half full with cold water, and pour in the new brew.

Throw out tea at the end of the day - it molds very fast - can't see the mold, but can bring on allergies regardless

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Ice Tea supplies.

You definitely get a different flavor when you brew tea in the sun.

Here's a great way to have amazing Iced Tea for your picnic, camp site, patio, summer outing, etc.

If you don't have a glass container with a well-fitted lid, then acquire one. Many discount stores sell decorated glass Sun Tea containers. Fill the container with cold water, set the container in the sun until the water darkens - it will never darken as much as brewed tea!

Bring the container in, let it cool to room temperature, pour over ice and sit back and enjoy.

Now this is a fancy way to make Sun Tea.

Variations:

Cranberry Iced Tea

Add Ice to the empty glass, Add cranberry juice about 1/4 of the glass, add water same amount, add brewed tea. (Sweeten tea while hot if you prefer sweet tea.)

Raspberry Iced Tea

Add ice to the empty glass. Blend frozen raspberries and and ice water, add to the ice, top off with sweetened brewed tea.

Grape Iced Tea

Follow instructions above for Cranberry Tea, but do not sweeten the tea as much because grape juice is much sweeter.

Arnold Palmer

Lemonade sweetened to taste, brewed tea. Add lemonade to ice, then top off with iced tea.

If you like flavored iced tea that is perfect every time, then I suggest you get some of this loose tea and make arrangements to pour hot water over the tea bail, have the glass and ice ready - you're going to be so refreshed.

I love experimenting with teas.

Cranberry Pomegranate Tea (Green Tea by Lipton) or Stash brand Herbal Tea

Celestial Seasonings: Wild Berry Zinger, Black Cherry Berry, Country Peach Passion, etc.

Loose Tea in a Tea Ball

Loose Tea brewed in a "Teavana" Tea Pot

If I've helped in any way let me know. If that's not the way you make iced tea, I'd love to hear about it.