topic Re: How Do You Make Iced Tea? in Community Chat

How Do You Make Iced Tea?

nana59 — Fri, 28 Apr 2017 18:18:51 GMT

I start with hot brewed tea, and add ice, but it always tastes bitter....any suggestions? Thanks!

Re: How Do You Make Iced Tea?

StraytoStay — Fri, 28 Apr 2017 20:57:41 GMT

I read in a cookbook to add a tablespoon of sugar to take away the bitterness and it's not so much that it makes it sweet. I find Lipton to be less bitter than Red Rose.

That was for a pitcher, but you could adjust it to suit maybe a pinch per cup of hot.

Re: How Do You Make Iced Tea?

SilleeMee — Fri, 28 Apr 2017 18:28:43 GMT

I do the "cold brew" method. Place bags of tea in a pitcher of cold water and let it sit in the frig over night or at least six hours. Never bitter.

Re: How Do You Make Iced Tea?

Mz iMac — Fri, 28 Apr 2017 18:29:34 GMT

@nana59 wrote:
I start with hot brewed tea, and add ice, but it always tastes bitter....any suggestions? Thanks!

You forget to add sugar?????

I make "sweet" ice tea by the gallon.

I melt the sugar first before adding the hot tea. I let the tea sit in the frige overnite.

I do not measure my sugar. I just use a large deep scoop. 3 scoops into a pot, add water. Stir till sugar melts. Pour the sugar mixture into the gallon container, then add the hot tea.

*sometimes I add "real" lemon juice.*

Re: How Do You Make Iced Tea?

chickenbutt — Fri, 28 Apr 2017 18:31:04 GMT

I haven't had iced tea in ages. Last time was in the days of 'sun tea'. One gallon glass container, some water, and some tea bags.

I always just used Lipton tea bags, near as I can remember.

Once I learned that the caffeine was causing my body to grow bad things inside I had to stop (no wonder I was bent over in pain all summer!). I tried it once with decaf Lipton bags (which I DO use for hot tea in the winter) and it just wasn't the same.

Re: How Do You Make Iced Tea?

beckyb1012 — Fri, 28 Apr 2017 18:32:24 GMT

Add three bags of Lipton teabags to a boiling small saucepan (never wash only rinse out), let steep for about 30 minutes and then add to a pitcher with tons of sugar and cold water. Makes for a nice treat for all my nieces and nephews over the years to get tea at my house instead of their Mom's non sugared kind.

Re: How Do You Make Iced Tea?

PINKdogWOOD — Fri, 28 Apr 2017 18:36:33 GMT

@SilleeMee My tea is made similarly but I make sun tea. As for sugar if we choose to we use agave. DH uses agave in his coffee so we always have it. It dissolves instantly.

Re: How Do You Make Iced Tea?

software — Fri, 28 Apr 2017 18:34:30 GMT

Luizianne is the best tea for iced tea.

Not sure if you can find it where you are.

I never add ice to the pitcher, only the glass.

And lots of real sugar.

@nana59

Re: How Do You Make Iced Tea?

SurferWife — Fri, 28 Apr 2017 18:34:56 GMT

Let me start by saying, I am a SOUTHERNER; therfore, I make my iced tea the correct way. For a gallon sized pitcher I brew 5 small tea bags (or 2 large tea bags) on the stove. I add 1/2 cup sugar (I've cut back in the amount of sugar over the years, but haven't cut out...that would be insanity) to my pitcher and pour the fresh brewed (still hot so sugar will melt) in the pitcher and stir to dissolve sugar. I then fill remainig with cold water and refrigerate. To serve, I fill a glass with ice and pour...then enjoy while thinking to myself...GOD BLESS THE SOUTH!

Re: How Do You Make Iced Tea?

chickenbutt — Fri, 28 Apr 2017 18:44:35 GMT

I don't understand why all the sugar in tea for some folks. It makes it taste awful and cloying. Is it just that some people don't like the taste of tea?

(just curious)

Re: How Do You Make Iced Tea?

NickNack — Fri, 28 Apr 2017 18:50:06 GMT

I haven't made iced tea in a long time, but when I did I thought Luzianne was the best. I didn't add sugar, but let everyone add their own sweetener to their glass of tea.

Re: How Do You Make Iced Tea?

sophiamarie — Fri, 28 Apr 2017 18:52:21 GMT

Crystal Lite

Re: How Do You Make Iced Tea?

goldensrbest — Fri, 28 Apr 2017 18:59:37 GMT

@chickenbutt wrote:
I don't understand why all the sugar in tea for some folks. It makes it taste awful and cloying. Is it just that some people don't like the taste of tea?

(just curious)

I don't like sugar in my tea either.

Re: How Do You Make Iced Tea?

catmama — Fri, 28 Apr 2017 19:00:04 GMT

I do the cold brew method and do not boil my water. Just use hot tap water (you can drink water from the tap in my area) and then let it sit for a few hours. I also combine teas by using Earl Grey, Cinammon Apple, Peach and Candy Cane. 2 bags of each. You can use any combination of teas you like. A friend of mine does the same but she adds a fruit tea (Zinger or Lemon) to hers.

Re: How Do You Make Iced Tea?

jackthebear — Fri, 28 Apr 2017 19:05:17 GMT

sun tea,

5 or 6 bags in a pitcher and let it sit

sometimes I add a chai tea bag

Re: How Do You Make Iced Tea?

ECBG — Fri, 28 Apr 2017 19:06:41 GMT

Like @SurferWife, I too am a true Southerner. I also taught tea brewing in all my foods classes because I didn't allow "soda".

At home, we now use the microwave. I have a 5 cup Anchor Hocking mixing bowl with a pour spout and handle.

We put in 4 cups very warm water stir in 1/2 c sugar. Add two large Family Size tea bags Luzianne. Microwave on high about 10-15 minutes. Remove and cover with a large paper towel. Brew about 20 minutes to develop the flavor. We add about 1/3 fresh lemon as we pour it into the pitcher. Refrigerate.

I changed from Lipton tea because it has a sour note (after taste).

Also, the Mr Coffee tea machine is fantastic! It also frees up busy major appliances. Put ot on and forget it!

Re: How Do You Make Iced Tea?

Zhills — Fri, 28 Apr 2017 19:13:52 GMT

All in what you grew up with. To me, tea without sugar is just colored water. I've tried to drink it but just can't manage to. "Sweet tea" is like Coke or Pepsi. it has to taste a certain way or it's not really "Sweet tea." Just a Southerner's opinion!

Re: How Do You Make Iced Tea?

DukeBlueNan — Fri, 28 Apr 2017 19:15:23 GMT

I learned from good southern role models and we put Lipton teabags in boiling water, take it off burner and let it "steep" for about 30 minutes or MORE. Then, the sugar! And at least a cup, depending on size of brew. It's good Y'all, but honestly I rarely make it or even order it when eating out.

Re: How Do You Make Iced Tea?

sunshine45 — Fri, 28 Apr 2017 19:16:21 GMT

the BEST iced tea/sweet tea recipe......plus add some FRESH lemon when serving. mint optional.

For the Tea

1/4 teaspoon baking soda (this helps with the tannins in the tea, helps prevent cloudiness, and keeps it smooth with less bitterness)
8 cups hot water

4 family size black tea bags (luzianne, red rose, lipton iced tea bags preferred OR 6-8 regular sized tea bags)

For the Simple Syrup

1 cup water
1cup sugar

for the simple syrup, boil the water, turn off, then add sugar and stir until disolved. cool. for the iced tea,

place boiled water in large pitcher and add the baking soda. add the tea bags and let steep for about five minutes.remove tea bags and DO NOT squeeze them. you can add the simple syrup OR you can serve it on the side for those who dont want their iced tea too sweet.

let cool and serve over ice with lemon, mint.

shot of limoncello optional.

Re: How Do You Make Iced Tea?

Mz iMac — Fri, 28 Apr 2017 19:18:37 GMT

@chickenbutt wrote:
I don't understand why all the sugar in tea for some folks. It makes it taste awful and cloying. Is it just that some people don't like the taste of tea?

(just curious)

Maybe to you it does. But, not for the majority of ice tea drinkers.