Iced Tea, has anyone made their own?

CJRyder

I have heard of people making Sun Tea. Essentially tea bags plus fruit slices in a big jug left in the sun for a few hours. Then pour over ice. Might be a little energy saver in a heatwave...

FairyPrincessk

As a woman part raised in the US deep South I couldn't not post. A lot of households in the Southern US always have a pitcher of iced tea in the fridge and they all make their own. I've never encountered anyone who would touch the instant stuff--nothing wrong with it, if you like it, but it has a very different flavour. Making it is very easy, although it can take a bit of trial and error to get it the way you like it. Most people use a dedicated pitcher so know how many tea bags and how long to steep, how much sugar (if they like it sweet) for that particular jug. Rather than making hot tea and putting ice it it, it is more typical to add tap water when the brewing is finished and then chill it in the fridge. It is always served over ice, so make a tray of cubes at the same time!

I'd estimate 3ish teabags for a litre pitcher, we used to use 4 for half a US gallon (which is slightly different from a UK gallon!). Add boiling water and any desired sugar and let steep until desired strength is reached. Allow to cool to room temperature and then put it in the fridge. Most of the time it is advisable to make it the day before. Some people add a wedge of lemon when serving over ice, but the really hard core Southerners just like it plenty sweet with lots of ice. Part of why I no longer drink it is because of the sugar, and I don't like it unsweetened. I'd say a generous 3/4 to full cup of sugar was used in my family's jug and grandma disapproved because it wasn't sweet enough!

I don't drink caffeine and try to avoid sugar these days, so I often make an herbal batch, although I still tend to use boiling water rather than cold brew methods. I sometimes do the same with iced decaf coffee.

Since we're getting unprecedented heat, you may want to give sun tea a try, where room temperature water is left with teabags in the sun to brew.

Personally I make a lot of water infusions with things like mint and lemon balm, cucumbers or fruit steeped in cold water.

Wednesday2000

MovingForwards said:

Wednesday2000 said:

MovingForwards said:

@Wednesday2000 I drink iced coffee in warm weather, some decaf with cold water and shaken to mix, topped up with water, oat milk and loads of ice.

If I'm having it instead of lunch, it's coffee and oat milk, with loads of ice.

I use a shaker bottle, without putting the metal ball in it, for a decent size drink and ease of mixing.

Sounds nice. I was actually going to make something similar the other day. I put the ice cube trays in the freezer especially. I can't think why I didn't now. I might make it next week as it is meant to be very hot.

If you've got condensed milk in the cupboard, use some of that with water and coffee to make a frappé.

I adapted it, by using oat milk, but apparently I can get plant condensed milk, which I'll have a look for next time I go shopping.

You can get Oatly cream which is very nice.

MovingForwards

Wednesday2000 said:

MovingForwards said:

Wednesday2000 said:

MovingForwards said:

@Wednesday2000 I drink iced coffee in warm weather, some decaf with cold water and shaken to mix, topped up with water, oat milk and loads of ice.

If I'm having it instead of lunch, it's coffee and oat milk, with loads of ice.

I use a shaker bottle, without putting the metal ball in it, for a decent size drink and ease of mixing.

Sounds nice. I was actually going to make something similar the other day. I put the ice cube trays in the freezer especially. I can't think why I didn't now. I might make it next week as it is meant to be very hot.

If you've got condensed milk in the cupboard, use some of that with water and coffee to make a frappé.

I adapted it, by using oat milk, but apparently I can get plant condensed milk, which I'll have a look for next time I go shopping.

You can get Oatly cream which is very nice.

I'll keep an eye out for that too, thank you.