 |
|
Iced tea is a form of cold tea, often served in a glass over ice. Any variety of dry tea may be iced. It all depends on your taste! All that one has to do is brew the tea and then chill it. It is best to let the tea cool to room temperature before refrigerating it. Otherwise, you are running the risk of having a cloudy tea with a chalky taste.
However, if you directly pour the tea over ice, it may not cloud at all and the taste may remained unaffected. You can sweeten your beverage as you wish. It is best to add granulated sugar while the tea is cooling, this way, the sugar will dissolve better.
Quite a few flavors are available. The most common are fruit flavors; peach, raspberry, lime, cheery, and lemon iced tea.
Before we go on to the recipes, you should know what prior to the mid 1800s, when tea was served cold, it was referred to as tea punch and was spiked with alcohol. These cold teas had names such as Regent's Punch, Charleston's Saint Cecilia Punch, and Chatham Artillery Punch.
It wasn't until 1904, at the Saint Louis World's Fair, that iced tea was popularized.
Special Announcement:
Through our search online, we have found bottled tea. Yes, you read that correctly, bottled tea. We have tried them ourselves and... WOW!
This bottled tea is like no other and definitely superior to what you'll find in your grocery store. Here is what it is:
"Anteadote is pure, unsweetened tea, made with fresh tea leaves, not concentrate. Unlike the bottled teas found in your grocery, Anteadote contains no additives or preservatives. Filtered water, tea leaves, and vitamin C are its only ingredients. The results are pure refreshment and an abundance of health benefits. If you are looking to increase your consumption of tea, Anteadote is the answer: Health benefits and great taste in one convenient ice tea package."
Anteadote black tea:
This is a great alternative to soda or juice. It's portable, convenient, refreshing, and ready to drink. Let's not forget that it's unsweetened (try findind THAT in your local grocery store!)
Anteadote green tea:
It has the sweet, light taste. Probably our second favorite. It's very refreshing (we live in the tropics). And it's convenient as we can grab it on the go.
Anteadote jasmine tea:
Has a sweet, long-lasting freshly flowery flavor. (One of the bests in the anteadote line and our favorite!) It might take a little getting used to at first if you're not used to a floral tea, but if you like the scent of Jasmine, and you like oolong tea, this is a superb combination for you.
Anteadote white tea:
A great summer time drink. This is very handy to have in the fridge. It is very refreshing and tastes really good. If you like white tea, you will like this!
Making iced tea at home is a breeze! And now, for several delicious recipes!
Apple and Honey Iced Tea.
(Serves 6-8.)
- 3 cups water, boiling.
- 4 tea bags.
- 1/3 cup honey.
- 3 cups apple juice.
Steep tea bags in hot water for 5 minutes. Strain out tea bags, and stir in honey and juice. Mix until honey is dissolved. Chill and serve over ice.
Dragonwater review: Has a wide variety of flavored iced teas. Whether you are looking for black, green, rooibos, etc. flavored iced teas, they've got it. Because of their large selection, we have recommended the one we like best. We urge you to look around.
Ships to the U.S. and a variety of countries.
Tea Farm review: Has a very unique variety of flavored iced teas. We like these a lot because of how special those unique flavors are. (Caramel, banana, lotus, hibiscus...) We dare you to try them.
Takes U.S. and International orders.
Boston Iced Tea.
Ingredients:
- 4 quarts water.
- 1 cup sugar.
- 15 tea bags.
- 12 oz frozen cranberry juice concentrate.
Heat the water to a boiling point, and add the sugar. Stir until dissolved. Add the tea and let steep for 4-5 minutes. Remove the tea bags, and add the juice concentrate. Stir until melted, then allow to cool. Serve over ice.
Ginger Iced Tea:
Ingredients:
- 5 tea bags.
- 1-inch piece of fresh ginger.
- Add Sugar, to taste.
Slice the ginger root into thin slices and crush. Heat 1 quart of water and let the tea steep with the ginger. Let steep over low heat for at least 10 minutes. Strain out the tea and ginger slices and add sugar. Let the mixture cool and serve over ice.
Lemon Almond Iced Tea.
(Serves 12)
Ingredients:
- 4 cups boiling water.
- 10 tea bags, black.
- 2 lemons, sliced thinly.
- 1 cup sugar.
- 1 tbsp almond extract.
- 2 tsp vanilla extract.
- 1 2-litre bottle of lemon carbonated drink.
Brew the tea in a saucepan, and steep for 10 minutes. Put the lemon slices into a large pitcher, giving them each a squeeze as you go. Add the sugar into pitcher. Mix in the tea. Add flavorings and pop right before serving. If you are not going to serve immediately, hold off on the extracts and lemon soda until then.
Spiced Apple Iced Tea.
Ingredients:
- 6 tbsp green tea.
- 1 tbsp anise, powdered.
- 1/4 cup maple syrup.
- Lemon slices for garnish.
Steep the tea in 6 cups of hot (not quite boiling) water. Strain out the tea, and add the anise and maple syrup. Stir until the syrup is dissolved and blended. Let the mixture cool and serve over ice, with a slice of lemon.
Thai Iced Tea.
(Serves 4.)
Ingredients:
- 6 cups water.
- 8 tea bags, black.
- 1 cup evaporated milk.
- 4 tbsp sugar.
- 4 tsp cinnamon.
- 4 tsp cardamom.
- Ice, crushed.
Boil the water and steep the tea bags with cardamom for 5 minutes. Strain out the teabags and let cool. Put the ice into 4 glasses, and add the tea. Leave about a quarter of the glass empty. To each glass add, 1 tbs sugar, 1 tsp cinnamon and 1/4 cup of milk.
