Iced Tea

I have been on quite the ice tea kick lately. Over the years I have made ice tea in lots of different ways. I remember as a kid using a huge glass jar with a lid, putting cold water in it and tea bags and setting it out in the sun. Sun tea... Yum!!! I have also been known to make a cup of tea and then throw lots of ice in it to get it cold. Sure it got cold but it also got watery... blech! So I have had at times... very strong ice tea... weak ice tea and fake ice tea. LOL

Finally though, I found a way to make my ice tea consistent and this is what I do...




Put 8 cups of filtered water into a pan on the stove-top. Bring to a simmer. Remove from heat and toss in 6 tea bags. I then let this steep for 4 minutes, not 3... and not 5 but exactly 4 minutes. =P Remove the teabags from the pan and put a lid on it. I let this cool until its able to be poured into my ice tea pitcher.

I usually like to sweeten my own tea glass by glass ... but the husband prefers it pre-sweetened. I have found that a scant 1/3 cup of sugar mixed in at this stage is just right for him. Gives it a bit of sweetness but not too sweet. If I make tea during the week and know he wont be partaking, then I don't bother to sweeten it and add my sweetener when I pour a glass. Another thing I have done before is make up a simple syrup and store it in the fridge. He could use this to sweeten his ice tea (if he doesn't use it for something else that is lol)

The possibilities are endless... how about a raspberry/lemon iced tea... Blueberry iced tea... or even a lovely mint iced tea. Sounds delicious to me!!!

What about you... do you have a favorite way to make iced tea?

*hugs*
~Reg