How to Make Iced Tea

Do you need the perfect iced tea recipe? Making your own iced tea is a crucial skill for those lazy summertime days or Gatsby-esque luncheons. The perfect iced tea is easy to brew, whether you're making one refreshing glass for yourself or stirring up a pitcher of tea for guests. Read on to learn how to brew iced tea!
Making Iced Tea Tips
1. Remove the tags from tea bags before steeping tea for extended periods
2. Add sugar or fruit juice to your tea to sweeten it
3. Using simple syrup to sweeten your tea prevents sugar from dropping to the bottom of your glass.
4. Use a heatproof pitcher if pouring hot water directly into your container
5. A pinch of baking soda combats any bitterness while brewing iced tea
6. Experiment with fruit flavorings in your tea, or use mint

How to Make Fruit Iced Tea

This video shares a simple method for making fruit tea. Combine 3 cups of hot brewed black or green tea with 1 cup of sugar and stir until the sugar is dissolved. Add 3 cups of mixed slice fruit and 2 cups of cold water and serve. you can also add fruit juice, if desired.

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Introduction
- Brewing fresh iced tea is extremely simple to do and will result in refreshing tea for an afternoon lazing about outside or by the pool. Popular around the world, iced tea has long been a drink favored especially in the summer months. You can brew it hot and simply add ice, or take more time steeping your tea in the refrigerator or the sun. Then add a little lemon and sugar, and you'll have a tall and refreshing glass of iced tea.
Brew Iced Tea as Usual
- The simplest, and fastest, way to brew iced tea is exactly what you might think: pour hot water onto a few tea bags.
1. Pick your tea flavors.
  - Martha Stewart suggests using tea bags of assorted fruit flavors plus one English Breakfast tea bag.
2. Decide how much tea you want to make.
  - To make eight cups, or two quarts, of iced tea, use ten to sixteen assorted tea bags, depending on how strong you'd like your tea.
3. Boil water.
4. Remove tags from tea bags.
5. Put tea bags in a pitcher and pour hot water over them.
  - When pouring hot water over tea bags, be sure to use a plastic container, or one that is heatproof, as glass may break on impact with hot liquid.
  - If you're sure you want sweet tea, you can add sugar now, so it dissolves in the hot water.
6. Experts vary on how long tea should steep, but most guidelines suggest between 5 and 10 minutes.
7. Remove tea bags and add ice. If you're making 2 quarts of tea, add 4 cups of ice.
8. You'll also want to add ice to your glasses before pouring out the tea.
9. You might wish to add a little lemon to taste, or add sugar or simple syrup to sweeten.
10. Or try adding orange juice for another flavor kick.
11. If you're brewing herbal iced tea, you might also try adding a few cups of apple juice to your tea to sweeten it.
12. Serve as soon as it's cold—don't refrigerate your tea for days after you've brewed it. It will taste its best when it's been freshly brewed.
Cold Brew Iced Tea
- If you have a little more time, you can brew iced tea right in your refrigerator so that it's cold as soon as it's done.
1. Remove the tags from ten tea bags and tie them together for easy removal when tea is done.
2. Fill a pitcher with water, add tea bags and stick it in the refrigerator to brew overnight.
3. When tea is brewed, simply remove the tea bags and add fruit and a garnish—lemon, berries, or mint are all good ideas.
4. Pour tea into glasses full of ice and serve.
Brew in the Sun
- On a relaxing summer day, the sun can brew your tea.
1. Remove tags from ten tea bags and tie together before adding to a pitcher full of water.
2. Let tea brew in the sun for 4-6 hours before serving in glasses full of ice.
Vary Iced Tea Flavorings
- Now that you've mastered the basic iced tea, you might wish to add different flavors and experiment with what you like best.
1. In summer, hibiscus is a popular flavor to add to tea.
2. Stir in fruit juice(s)] for added flavor.http://www.recipezaar.com/301828 Boston Iced Tea is made with cranberry juice concentrate. http://allrecipes.com/Recipe/Boston-Iced-Tea/Detail.aspx You can stir in lemonade and orange juice concentrate for Tiger Tea.http://allrecipes.com/Recipe/Tiger-Tea/Detail.aspx
3. You might also like to try a black currant iced tea, which will require that you add a simple syrup. http://www.epicurious.com/recipes/food/views/BLACK-CURRANT-ICED-TEA-10524
4. You can also make a blueberry syrup for blueberry-flavored tea. http://www.recipezaar.com/177172
5. Or, try making Thai iced tea, which is flavored with sweetened condensed milk. http://www.foodnetwork.com/food/recipes/recipe/0,,FOOD_9936_31668,00.html
Conclusion
- Whether you simply add water to several tea bags or begin experimenting with flavored iced teas sweetened by raspberries or simple syrup, making your own iced tea is an important skill for any host or hostess—as well as for surviving a hot summer day.
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