While the British love their hot tea, citizens in other countries – especially Americans – are crazy about drinking it cold. Iced tea accounts for more than 70% of the tea consumed by Americans each year. The drink was first introduced to the American public at the 1904 St. Louis World’s Fair and quickly became popular with the masses.
While Northerners tend to consider iced tea a summertime beverage, those who live in the American South drink it all year long, regardless of the temperature outside. They’re especially passionate about their iced tea and strive to make the best every time. If you want to recreate great iced tea, it’s not a difficult task. Just follow a few simple rules, and you can be sure your tea will be perfect every time.
The Process of Making Iced Tea
It’s best not to make just one glass of iced tea at a time but rather a whole pitcher that family and friends can share, or that you can enjoy all day long. To make about 48 ounces of sweet-tasting iced tea, carefully follow this recipe:
- Choose your favorite tea: Iced tea doesn’t have to be the traditional orange pekoe, though most southern cooks believe these tea bags make the best tea. Berry flavors also make for light, refreshing iced teas – perfect for hot summer days.
- Boil the water: Bring one quart (4 cups) of cold water to a boil in a teapot on your stove. (Don’t microwave the water!)
- Steep the tea: Once the water has come to a boil, pour it over the tea bags. Most tea experts recommend 5 to 6 small tea bags for this quantity of iced tea. Tie the bags together so they’re easy to remove later. If you’re using “family-sized” tea bags (7 oz. vs. 2 oz.), use 2 large bags, but you may not want to let it steep as long. Glass pitchers work best – avoid metal or plastic pitchers, as they can sometimes affect the taste or retain smells from previous beverages.
- Steep for the right time: Set the tea aside and let it steep. One hour is usually sufficient, but if you can’t remove the tea bags after one hour, don’t worry. The tea will still be fine. Some people even let it steep overnight, claiming that this method creates better tea. Others leave it outside to make “sun tea.” If doing so, be sure to use a sealed container to keep bugs away.
- Add sugar: Once you’ve removed the tea bags, it’s time to add sugar. “Real” iced tea and “real” iced tea drinkers don’t worry about calories! However, if sugar is a concern for you, feel free to skip this step. If adding sugar, start with about 2/3 cup. After a few tries, you’ll know whether this is the right amount of sweetness for your tea. Don’t forget to stir until the sugar dissolves completely.
- Cool the tea: After the sugar dissolves, add 2 more cups of cold water. Stir again and place the tea in the refrigerator to chill. It’s important not to add ice cubes at this stage, as they’ll water down the iced tea and flatten the flavor. Always chill your tea in the refrigerator and allow enough time for it to reach a refreshing temperature.
- Keep it fresh: Never store iced tea in the refrigerator for more than a day or two, as it loses its pleasant taste.
- Serve with lemon: Always serve your iced tea with a lemon wedge that drinkers can squeeze into their glass. (Lemon slices don’t work because they can’t be squeezed.)
Once you’ve perfected the technique for making the world’s best iced tea, you’ll likely make adjustments to suit your personal taste. Be sure to experiment with flavors and sweetness until you find your perfect blend. Before long, you’ll be making gallons of it!
