Home

[BetsyDoodle]

On 3/14/2015 GoodStuff said:

I have to tell you: I'm a Southern iced tea girl, and $269 for a special tea brewer makes me laugh and cry at the same time. I don't know one single Southern iced-tea drinker who has a special pot for tea-brewing! Everybody I know brews tea in an ordinary pot in hot water as described it in #4 and then adds it to a cold water in a pitcher to the desired strength. Keep it simple.

I'm right there with you! I was not going to pay that to have tea! I also had a Mr Coffee(I think) ice tea maker about 10 yrs ago and it was more trouble than it was worth. I like my tea with a strong flavor. Maybe I'm not steeping it long enough or it may be the brand of tea I'm using. I grew up on Lipton, but is Luzianne or another brand better? I grew up on sweet tea, but drink un-sweet now. Maybe because it was sweet it tasted better or more like tea! Thanks for your help GoodStuff.

[Desertdi]

You can make tea in a percolator.......number of bags depends on the size of the pot. You need to experiment.

[Dorothy11]

I would not brew tea in any device that's also used for coffee, the flavor carries over. First, start with quality loose leaf tea. Good online sources are lupiciausa.com, tattletea.com, theculturedcup.com.

A french press works very well for tea brewing. Ikea has one for about $12, or Bodum makes some insulated models. There is also the Teaze Infuser that brews and releases into a cup.

I don's see any reason to invest $250 in an electric tea maker. Invest in some good tea instead!

[NickNack]

You need to steep tea for the proper flavor. Making it in a coffee pot would not steep it. You would end up with very weak tea. I always make iced tea the way it was mentioned in #4.

[colliegirls]

No need to "steep" if not using tea bags. We make a pitcher of ice tea every day or two. We use loose tea in our Mr Coffee (if you are worried about the flavor carrying over to the coffee, just get another $20. Mr Coffee). You have total control over the strength, we immediately pour it into another pitcher, add sugar, pour over ice, it makes the best ice tea we have ever tasted.

[Vamp]

On 3/14/2015 adelle38 said:

Tea is best when made in a tea pot. I don't see the point of an "electronic tea brewer". I definitely wouldn't make tea in a coffee machine.

I agree with you, Adelle. I most certainly wouldn't spend $269 on one, in any case. Just brew a simple pot of tea the old fashioned way. It's easy, inexpensive, and you'll have a wonderful cup of tea.

[rac71]

On 3/15/2015 NickNack said:

You need to steep tea for the proper flavor. Making it in a coffee pot would not steep it. You would end up with very weak tea. I always make iced tea the way it was mentioned in #4.

ITA. I wasted money on a Krups tea brewer. The water runs through the tea once, which isn't nearly enough for a true steep time. Yes, properly brewed tea requires different temps, but the only one really impacted is white tea, which is so delicate you often should steep with water that hasn't quite boiled. I use teapots, strainers, and a glass "beaker" with straining top by rishi.

[Iwantcoffee]

I have tried several different tea brands and I am currently using Red Diamond. I boil water in a saucepan and steep 2 one quart tea bags in one quart water for 6 minutes then add cold water to make 2 quarts ice tea. My husband and I both love this tea. We make a fresh pitcher everyday and sometimes more when it is really hot. I drink tea hot, cold, sweet and unsweetened, herbal. Love me some tea!

[BetsyDoodle]

Thanks to all for your input!! I think I will invest in some good tea, I think that is #1 in a good glass of tea.

[sfnative]

On 3/14/2015 Jackielee said:

I agree-clean it out very, very well or you will have an aftertaste of coffee. Why a tea brewer? I am an avid tea drinker, been for over 40 years and have never felt a need for an appliance like that.

I would never, under any circumstance, use a coffee brewer, to make tea, even if one does try the darndest to clean it.

Re the "appliance like that," well, I have a Russell Hobbs, the most popular unit in Great Britain and I would lose my eye teeth before parting with my Russell Hobbs. I've been drinking tea for 63 years and this unit allows me to brew one cup hot tea and up to 2 quarts of iced tea or one quart of hot tea, which can then be poured into ones favorite pot.

In this unit's carafe with infuser, one can place favorite loose tea or bags. Won't go into any more detail. Look it up online if you wish, but it is definitely a winner in my book.