Community Chat

[nana59]

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

[StraytoStay]

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.

[SilleeMee]

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.

[Mz iMac]

---

@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.*

[chickenbutt]

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.  

[beckyb1012]

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.

[PINKdogWOOD]

@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.

[software]

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

[SurferWife]

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!

[chickenbutt]

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)