Iced tea provides more than just a refreshing drink. We’ve made a step by step guide on how to make iced tea so you can enjoy it homemade! In fact, it is amazing at soothing stress and providing weird minerals that you didn’t even know your body needs. If you want to learn how to make some seriously good iced tea, you’re in the right place!
Next to water, tea is the most frequently consumed beverage in the world. This makes sense because tea goes hand-in-hand with images of the United Kingdom, Russia, India, and Asia. However, you’ll be surprised to know that the United States has a booming tea culture as well.
On any given day, more than half of the American population consumes tea. So it is a rather surprising fact that 85% of tea is served on the rocks.
Whether it is white, green, or black tea, they all come from the same plant and are just processed differently. Irrespective of the color, all tea has good advantages for the body. Making your very own ice tea at home may sound quite complicated and time-consuming; however, it’s simple, and probably one of the easiest things to do.
In the following article, we’ll take a closer look at how to make homemade ice tea that you can enjoy as and when you desire.
See also: Love your iced tea? Here’s a simple way to make a delicious and exciting blackberry iced tea recipe for your next summer evening on the back deck!
How to Make Iced Tea
Making your own ice tea couldn’t be easier. All you need is a flavor of your choice and a large pitcher or glass jar.
The key is to use as a ratio of 1/2 ounce tea to a quart of water. In other words, that works out to approximately 2 tablespoons of loose tea or 5 to 6 tea bags.
The traditional base for iced tea is strong black tea; however, you can feel free to experiment with green or herbal teas as well if those are your preferred flavors.
Step 1
Start by allowing the water to simmer but let it reach boiling point.
The ideal temperature for tea is around 180°F; in other words, when bubbles just begin to break to the surface of the water, this is the ideal temperature.
Once this happens, take the water and pour it into the tea. The hot water better absorbs the tea, and this ultimately leads to a milder flavor.
Step 2
In a separate pan, make a simple syrup.
This step is recommended, especially if you like your tea a little sweet. Start by combining equal parts of granulated sugar with water in a pot or saucepan over low heat.
Continuously stir until the sugar is completely dissolved. Thereafter allow it to cool, bottle, and refrigerate.
Step 3
After five minutes, the tea should be dark and steeped. Don’t allow the tea to steep more than five minutes, or it will become tannic and end up with a slightly bitter taste.
Remove the tea bags or loose leaf tea and throw it away.
Allow the tea to cool to around room temperature and refrigerate.
Step 4
The final step involves you enjoying your tea over ice if desired or adding slices of lemon.
You may also choose to sweeten with the simple syrup that you prepared earlier.
What is the best type of tea for iced tea?
There is nothing better than a tall glass of iced tea in the middle of summer. It’s simple, enjoyable, and, of course, will make you smile with each sip. Iced tea is typically thought to be made with black tea; however, lots of tea aficionados will tell you otherwise.
Iced tea is just as it sounds tea that has been iced. So with that said, iced tea can be made with any type of tea. There are no restrictions on the type of tea or the varieties of tea that can be used to create this thirst-quenching drink.
Black tea is, however, more commonly used in iced tea; however, some people prefer white, green, and roasted Oolong over ice since it doesn’t lose its flavor or aroma over ice. Iced tea can be made using both hot and cold techniques.
However, chilling hot tea in the fridge can lead to staleness and bitterness. Cold brewing, on the other hand, helps to retain the sweetness and the full flavor when making iced tea. Unsweetened iced tea is not just efficient but flavorful as well. However, if you like tea a little sweet, then here are a few options you can use.
Stevia leaves make sweetening quick and convenient as they can be tossed in with the tea while it is chilling, and it will infuse tea with natural sweetness. Honey, on the other hand, makes another excellent choice since it compliments the flavor of most iced teas and still adds a fruitiness, not to mention having numerous health benefits.
Agave nectar is similar to honey and works just as well. Molasses, brown sugar, and maple syrup are all sweetening agents that can be used to keep your iced tea’s strength and body.
Additionally, simple syrups like Royal Rose simple syrups are organic and found in a variety of flavors that can provide sweetness and dimension to your iced tea. On the other hand, to spice things, if you love fruits, use fruit juice as a natural sweetener over iced tea.
Other Tips
It will not only make the drink colorful but tastier as well, and fruit is definitely the most natural and healthy type of sugar that you can add to this chilled drink.
Another way to take your chilled iced tea to the next level is to add extracts such as almond, vanilla, and maple, etc. You can also add spices such as nutmeg, cinnamon, and cloves, etc.
Other flavorful ingredients can also be used, such as herbs, mint, lavender, basil, and rosemary. You may use roots and flowers such as dandelions, honeysuckle, ginger, and rosehip, or natural sweeteners such as Stevia needs. So ultimately, when it comes to the type of tea to use in your iced tea, it’s your choice. There are, however, some recommendations that you can try if you haven’t already.
Green teas make an excellent choice for iced tea. Certain flavors such as Samovar’s Ryokucho are nutty, toasty, and caffeinated flavor, which makes an excellent iced tea choice.
Other excellent choices include spearmint, peppermint, and tarragon, which ices extremely well.
Lighter and whiter teas are also excellent for chilling. White tea, such as White Peony made by Silver Needle tea Co. has a faint and grassy flavor. As it states, it also releases natural sweetness.
It’s available in tea bags or loose leaf and makes an excellent choice for chilled tea.
Ultimately, when it comes to making iced tea at home, you can use any flavor that entices your patronage, irrespective of whether it is black, green, white, or herbal teas.
What are the benefits of iced tea over regular tea?
Tea is probably the most popular beverage in the world, aside from plain water.
This applies to all flavors, including herbal teas, and it’s frequently consumed since it’s healthy and delicious.
However, before you sit down to steep your next cup of tea, you need to be aware of the advantages and disadvantages of hot tea versus cold tea. If you are an avid tea drinker, then it’s highly likely that you prefer your tea at a certain temperature.
While drinking hot tea still has a number of health benefits, research suggests that cold brewing for a longer period of time has more health benefits than drinking hot tea. Researchers also found that cold water steeping maximizes the health benefits of tea and keeps it high in antioxidant activity as well as gallic acid content and total phenolics.
However, in order to achieve these medical health benefits, you need to allow the tea to infuse for a longer period of time. When you do this, there are amazing health benefits delivered by iced tea.
In fact, it can prevent deadly diseases such as cancer and assist your body in preventing other chronic diseases. Some other health benefits of iced tea versus hot tea includes:
Health Benefits of Iced Tea
Proper hydration: Ice-tea keeps your body hydrated, and this is one of the goals of a healthy life.
Hydration is imperative for your body. When you are adequately hydrated, your body gets a sufficient amount of water supply to the rest of the body parts. Ice-tea is an excellent source of hydration.
Blood sugar: It is a common belief that sugar brings on diabetes.
However this is not true at all.
When your insulin-producing cells are destroyed, diabetes easily takes over. However, maintaining decent sugar levels is vital for a healthy body.
Concentration: If you’re an avid tea drinker, you’ll notice that you can’t probably concentrate without a cup of tea.
This is because tea has a small amount of caffeine.
Ultimately this helps you to focus on the topic at hand and boosts your focusing ability.
Weight loss: Ice tea calms your nerves and also assists in weight loss.
The cortisol hormone is what’s responsible for fat in your body, and more specifically, belly fat. Ultimately it also has damaging effects on the brain.
Ice- tea has the ability to lower this hormone in the body and therefore increase weight loss.
Reduces body pain: Body pain is common, especially after working out.
Ice-tea also works as an anti-inflammatory treatment reduces body and muscle pain.
Fresh breath: One of the most embarrassing things is to talk to someone while having bad breath.
Mint or lemon-flavored iced tea is great for a fresh breath. This is because it contains polyphenols that break down bad bacteria.
Asthma treatment: Tea has the ability to increase the airway passages in your body, allowing you to breathe easier.
Although it is not a long term solution, it will bring some temporary relief.
Related Questions
What type of tea should be used to make iced tea?
You can use black, green, white or herbal tea to make your very own iced tea.
Should you use tea bags or loose leaf tea for iced tea?
The choice is yours as both types of tea work equally well.
How long should I cold brew iced tea?
There is no specified period of time, however, the longer you leave it to cold brew the more the flavors will infuse.
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