How do I make real iced tea?
05-08-2013, 06:18 PM
#51
Super Member
Join Date: Feb 2011
Location: Carlisle, PA
Posts: 1,964
I am on Weight Watchers so I must drink several glasses of liquid daily and Sun Tea is my favorite. I begin with a clear glass half gallon container - plastic works as long as it's clear (see through). Fill it up then place 4 regular sized or 2 family sized tea bags and let it sit in a sunny spot. My sunny spot is my kitchen windowsill. After 3+ hours, your tea will be brewed. I add fresh lemons and Truvia sweetener to my glass plus ice and ENJOY!! Tastes like old times just like my grandma used to make and it's very reasonable, too!!
This sounds like a simple question for someone who has been cooking for 50+ years, but how do you make real iced tea? I dislike the canned sweet tea we buy way up here in the north. I make a very good pot of hot tea but iced sweet tea has me baffled. It would be nice to have a pitcher in my fridge ready to drink, now that our hot and humid summer is approaching. Thanks everyone for the help.
05-09-2013, 01:06 AM
#52
Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2011
Location: Cleburne, Texas, USA
Posts: 341
We put 1 family size tea bags in the coffee maker, we have one just for tea. When done mix in 1 cup sugar and mix well. Fill gallon jug with tea and water. Refrigerate. Pour over ice and enjoy.
05-09-2013, 09:31 AM
#53
Member
Join Date: Feb 2012
Posts: 30
I make my Southern tea in my coffee maker. I place 2 family size bags in the brew basket, pour a "lipping" full coffee pot of water into the maker. When it finishes running through, pour the tea immediately into a pitcher that will hold that much tea, add 1-2 cups sugar while it is hot, stir to dissolve. The amount of sugar determines how sweet you want it. My hubby likes his tea really sweet, well, so do I! I'm from Alabama but now reside in South Dakota. Have a beautiful day to all!
05-09-2013, 10:49 AM
#54
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Join Date: Mar 2008
Location: AZ and CT
Posts: 4,898
I have a VERY large jar - maybe 4 quarts - and I use 4 Earl Grey teabags. It has a slight lemony flavor.
05-09-2013, 06:12 PM
#55
Senior Member
Join Date: Mar 2010
Location: Middle Tennessee
Posts: 702
Mine is very simple.
I put a pot of water, 6-7 cups on the stove. I add 3 large tea bags, bring just to a boil, then turn it off. Let it steep for a few (5?) minutes. Pour the hot tea in a gallon pitcher. Add just over a cup of sugar (more or less to taste) stir to disolve. Fill with cold tap water and put in fridge to chill.
I put a pot of water, 6-7 cups on the stove. I add 3 large tea bags, bring just to a boil, then turn it off. Let it steep for a few (5?) minutes. Pour the hot tea in a gallon pitcher. Add just over a cup of sugar (more or less to taste) stir to disolve. Fill with cold tap water and put in fridge to chill.
Carol B
05-10-2013, 09:21 PM
#57
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Join Date: Feb 2013
Location: Puget Sound WA area
Posts: 300
Like "barbo117" said, the secret ingredient is baking soda - I'm the only one who drinks iced tea here in our home (and having lived a while in the south, I like it sweet!). Without the baking soda, after a day or two in the fridge the tea becomes a little stale - tasting like it's bottled and not fresh brewed. But WITH the baking soda, it stays fresh tasting for the 2-3 days it takes for me to drink up a pitcher of tea! Oh, I LOVE my iced tea maker from Hamilton Beach - it has a long, oval pitcher instead of round and fits better in the fridge! I follow the directions, use 3 large family size bags of Luiziane Tea bags; put 1 cup of sugar & 1/4 tsp baking soda over the ice in the pitcher and the hot brewed tea melts the sugar & soda & just enough ice for a PERFECT pitcher of sweet tea!
05-29-2013, 05:17 PM
#59
Senior Member
Join Date: Dec 2010
Location: Garden State
Posts: 516
I fill a 2 gallon stock pot with water, add 4 tea bags (I like Tetley or Lipton), 1 3/4 cup of sugar, bring to a rolling boil. Let cool. Remove tea bags. You can squeeze the juice of a lemon, or add 2/3 cup of bottled lemon. Refrigerate in pitcher of your choice.
Last edited by Jersey Gal; 05-29-2013 at 05:20 PM.
06-30-2013, 10:05 AM
#60
Super Member
Join Date: Jan 2013
Location: Virginia
Posts: 1,203
I just make the desired quantity of hot tea, and add ice.
My MIL made southern iced tea. She boiled 2 quarts of water for 10 minutes with 5 tea bags. Yes, boiled with the tea bags in the pan. After cooling on the stove, she then filled a 2 quart pitcher 1/3 of the way with sugar, added the cooled tea and diluted ( if needed) to 2 quarts.
My MIL made southern iced tea. She boiled 2 quarts of water for 10 minutes with 5 tea bags. Yes, boiled with the tea bags in the pan. After cooling on the stove, she then filled a 2 quart pitcher 1/3 of the way with sugar, added the cooled tea and diluted ( if needed) to 2 quarts.
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