It is going to be a scorcher again this weekend, so I decided the best idea was to give a weekend recipe for iced tea. This is the traditional way to make brewed iced tea, not sun tea or refrigerator tea.
Brewing your iced tea extracts the full flavor from the tea to give you the best tasting iced tea possible. It is also the tired and true method passed down in families for making iced tea. I know my family has been doing it this way for at least 100 years.
You will be serving this tea cold, but to make it you need to brew it hot. So your technique is to brew regular tea, then serve it over ice. So what you need to be most aware of is how diluted your tea will become with the ice. To make up for that we will double the amount of black tea and triple the about of herb tea leaves we use when brewing.
Hot brewed iced tea extracts the most flavors giving you the best tasting iced tea possible. It is also easy to make and takes no time at all before you are sipping a chilled glass of delicious iced tea.
Of the 26 varieties of tea made by the Backyard Patch there are a few I always recommend for making summertime iced tea. My favorite is Calming Spirit, with a hint of mint you get a cool and refreshing taste over ice. For a relaxing tea I recommend Rest Easy and Elmhurst Garden Walk teas, the first is minty the second is more lemony. remember Garden Walk tea is only available in the summer and features a floral bouquet of flavors, like lavender, calendula, chamomile and lemon verbena. For those who enjoy black tea, try the Garden Gait Tea. This blend was made for the Lisle Women's Club garden walk and is a wonderful mix of hibiscus, lemon verbena blackberry leaf and black tea for a rich bright flavor you can enjoy on a hot day.
Brewing your iced tea extracts the full flavor from the tea to give you the best tasting iced tea possible. It is also the tired and true method passed down in families for making iced tea. I know my family has been doing it this way for at least 100 years.
You will be serving this tea cold, but to make it you need to brew it hot. So your technique is to brew regular tea, then serve it over ice. So what you need to be most aware of is how diluted your tea will become with the ice. To make up for that we will double the amount of black tea and triple the about of herb tea leaves we use when brewing.
Ingredients
- 2 teaspoons of black or flavor black tea for every 6-8 ounces of water (double the amount you uses for hot tea) - if making an all herb or herb and fruit tea, then use 3 teaspoons for 6 to 8 ounces of water.
- a tea pot or heat resistant glass container
- a glass or plastic picture for serving
- ice
Directions
- Heat the water (Boiling for Black Tea, just before it boils for herb and fruit teas)
- Place the tea in bottom of the teapot
- Pour water over the leaves and steep (approx. 4 minutes for black tea, 10 to 15 for herb teas)
- While the tea is steeping, fill the pitcher to the top with ice
- Strain the tea over the ice and serve in glasses with more ice.
- If you are making ahead, pour the warm tea over half a pitcher of ice and place in the refrigerator. When ready to serve pour over additional ice to get the right, strength.
Hot brewed iced tea extracts the most flavors giving you the best tasting iced tea possible. It is also easy to make and takes no time at all before you are sipping a chilled glass of delicious iced tea.
Of the 26 varieties of tea made by the Backyard Patch there are a few I always recommend for making summertime iced tea. My favorite is Calming Spirit, with a hint of mint you get a cool and refreshing taste over ice. For a relaxing tea I recommend Rest Easy and Elmhurst Garden Walk teas, the first is minty the second is more lemony. remember Garden Walk tea is only available in the summer and features a floral bouquet of flavors, like lavender, calendula, chamomile and lemon verbena. For those who enjoy black tea, try the Garden Gait Tea. This blend was made for the Lisle Women's Club garden walk and is a wonderful mix of hibiscus, lemon verbena blackberry leaf and black tea for a rich bright flavor you can enjoy on a hot day.
Thank you!
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