Quality iced tea (i.e. iced tea made from quality loose leaf tea) can be confusing because it's made in different ways by different people. I've been reviewing teas for several months now, and even I haven't been sure of the best way to make iced tea until very recently, when I finally decided (through necessity of the hot weather) to try it on my own.The first thing you should know is that you should not make sun tea. This is a long-used method of throwing the tea in a pitch of water and then letting that pitcher of water sit out in the sun... at exactly the perfect temperature to breed bacteria and potentially make you sick.
Yes, your grandmother's made it since you were a kid or your mother says it's fine, but trust me. Sun tea is a bad idea, and even if it weren't, there is very popular method of making iced tea that eliminates any need to leave your tea in a jar out in your yard all day.The most popular method of making iced tea these days is flash chilled ice tea, which is pretty simple and pretty quick:
1. Make your desired tea exactly as you would always make, except double the quantity of tea leaves.
2. Pour into a pitcher or glass of ice, and voila!
I never have room for ice in my freezer, so I make the desired quantity of double-strength tea, pour it in a pitcher, and add cool/cold water to dilute the tea in the same manner the ice would, and stick it in the fridge. You can handle it in whatever way is the most convenient for you, but there is one very snazzy option that has appeared on the scene recently.
Tea-Over-Ice is an innovative new product from Tea Forte that makes quality iced tea simple and beautiful at the same time. With two perfectly sized pitchers than fit together, you can use hot water and one of Tea Forte's perfectly sized tea bags in the top pitcher and then pour the tea into the pitcher of ice beneath when the steeping time is over. This setup is certainly not necessary to make iced tea, but it's an impressive way to make iced tea when you're entertaining guests, and I'm already secretly coveting one to add to my teaware collection.
How do you make your iced tea? What teaware, tea, and steps do you use? Leave your answers in the comments!
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
7-02-2008 @ 12:16PM
tony said...
This is the method I use at the office all the time. We have a hot water tap on out office coffe maker.
I fill on cup with the amount of sugar I want. And add a tea filter with double the amount of leaves or just use 2 lipton bags from the office supply and add the water. In another cup I fill it to the rim with ice. Brew the double-strength sweet tea and pour over the ice.
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7-02-2008 @ 1:19PM
rainey said...
I drink more than 2 quarts of ice tea a day. All year round.
My method is simple. I put two large teabags made for iced tea (super finely chopped) in a 2 qt. jar made for the fridge door. I pour in hot tap water and let it sit on the counter -- several hours if I'm making it in the daytime; overnight otherwise. I remove the tea bags and put it in the fridge.
This is NOT the high quality tea I drink hot but I really don't taste the difference when it's cold.
I do not sweeten it. Not even to drink it. I like tasting tea not flowers, sweeteners, herbs, or fruit. If I'm serving to friends who like sweetened tea I offer a simple syrup of water boiled with sugar and allowed to cool in the fridge. Takes 2 minutes to make, gives flexibility about the degree of sweetness and avoids making people who don't want sweet avoid cloying oversweetness.
I do NOT understand the concept of pre-sweetened ice tea. Do those people serve coffee already creamed?
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7-02-2008 @ 1:20PM
rainey said...
At first I thought the tea-over-ice thing was entirely too precious. But at $42 for two sleek pitchers it's priced right. And the pitchers would have other utility used separately.
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7-02-2008 @ 1:57PM
Amanda said...
I have the Tea-Over-Ice thingy and I LOVE it. I first experienced it at a banquet at the Omni Hotel in Boston, then I got one for myself. Such high-quality tea, easy to use, plus it looks nice sitting out on my countertop when I'm not using it.
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7-02-2008 @ 4:34PM
Maven said...
I use Good Earth's Sweet and Spicy. I put 2 cups of water in a quart jar, 2 tea bags, and microwave for 2 minutes. I let it sit for 5 minutes, then pour over one tray of ice cubes. This last all day, is cinnamon-alicious, and sweet without having to add any sugar or honey. Perfection!
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7-02-2008 @ 4:46PM
Top of the South said...
That's an interesting recipe. I live in Maryland and we make a mean sweet tea here. My Grandmother was from the Carolinas and I recall her making sun tea. She'd let it sit out doors for hours and it was delicious. I'd also have to agree with an earlier commenter Virginia as well as Maryland cities tend to have a diluted southern identity. But if you go to the right spots you can find a great glass of southern hospitality!
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7-02-2008 @ 4:46PM
Almost Vegetarian said...
I wrote about this a couple of months ago (http://almostvegetarian.blogspot.com/2008/05/vegetarian-mothers-day-gift-perfect-for.html) and I totally agree that this is great for company (such a good conversation starter) but only if it is you and one other person because this only makes two glasses worth!
Cheers.
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7-02-2008 @ 6:45PM
Christopher Masto said...
I use the Mr. Coffee Iced Tea Pot. Despite being a tea snob who would normally whine about what's basically a drip coffee machine, it seems to work perfectly fine for iced tea. My current favorite tea to use is Upton's "Peach With Pieces": http://uptontea.com/shopcart/item.asp?itemID=TF73 They also have a darjeeling-ceylon iced tea blend that works very well in the machine.
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7-02-2008 @ 7:53PM
rainey said...
Am I understanding that the Tea Forte tea bags (that's what they are) are $2 apiece and make two large glasses of iced tea at $1 a pop?
I'd be spending $10 or more a day for what probably costs me about 25¢ now. Not saying it isn't stylish and the pitchers, as such, aren't reasonably priced. But icing tea dulls the special flavors of fine tea and gulping copious amounts to deal with summer heat is hardly savoring so I can't see spending more than the average tea bags -- of whatever flavor -- cost.
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7-02-2008 @ 7:53PM
rainey said...
Am I understanding that the Tea Forte tea bags (that's what they are and calling them "infusers" is a tad too precious for me) are $2 apiece? And that one will make two large glasses of iced tea at $1 each?
I'd be spending $10 or more a day for what probably costs me about 25¢ now and meets my needs nicely!
Not saying this system isn't stylish and the pitchers, as such, aren't reasonably priced. But icing dulls the nuance of fine tea making it pointless and gulping copious amounts to deal with summer heat is hardly savoring. Sweetening further distorts and overwhelms the flavor of the leaves. So I can't see spending more than the cost of average tea bags -- of whatever flavor.
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7-03-2008 @ 12:52AM
Andy said...
Here's something great an incredible local restaurant, Zingerman's Roadhouse, does... they add just a bit of Earl Grey into their ice tea. It's fantastic.
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7-03-2008 @ 11:11AM
Fox Mackenzie said...
A handy trick that doesn't even deal with doubling the tea leaves - make two batches (about 1/2 pitcher each) of your favorite tea. Put one batch in the fridge, and the other batch, pour into ice cube trays. When ready to serve, just pop the tea cubes into the pitcher and voila - self-icing tea :) For a great way to brew iced tea, grab a $5 coupon here(http://www.adagio.com/free_gift/index.html?sender=135698&color=genmai_cha) and check out Adagio Tea's awesome Ingenuitea. I use mine at least twice a day and I love the heck out of it. http://www.adagio.com/teaware/ingenuiTEA_teapot.html?sid=b464849e92c403b75f503051f572f537
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7-08-2008 @ 7:09AM
Anne Laurence said...
This contraption is silly! Just brew tea in a sturdy glass and add ice. One thing to wash instead of three!
Sure it's cute, but honestly. This is not a problem you have!
http://skymallstupidity.blogspot.com/2008/07/wont-ice-melt.html
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7-08-2008 @ 11:51AM
Anne Laurence said...
Southern iced tea must be too dark to see through and sweet enough to make your teeth hurt! http://www.npr.org/programs/atc/features/2002/aug/icedtea/
- AL
http://skymallstupidity.blogspot.com/2008/07/wont-ice-melt.html
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7-16-2008 @ 3:48PM
Ikasu said...
First, it's usually a waste to use flavored tea when you're making iced tea if other people will drink it. Imagine adding some of your finest earl gray and then Aunt Susan comes over and wants an Arnold Palmer (aka the best drink ever).
People are very particular about their iced tea, especially in the south; I made had a fruit-flavored tea iced and had my whole family think it was rancid.
Never let people add their own amount of sugar into the tea!! People will make big pitchers of unsweetened black tea and then expect everyone to put their Sweet n' Low or whatever; if you're serving tea for people with varying preferences, make one unsweetened tea, and one sweet tea (put the sugar in while the tea is hot like Southern people do). The people who are willing suffer the calories will thank you.
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