Iced Tea

[Martina]

Hi Everybody,

I was going through my cupboards and found some tea-bags which I do not intend to use, as I found somewhere I can buy the loose tea I like. So I was wondering can i use this tea-bag stuff to make Iced Tea? Should Iced tea be made with only certain types of tea? For instance, I don't imagine Earl Grey would make could iced tea, but maybe I am wrong. Can you mix teas to make Iced tea? I have several varieties in my cupboard, so should I only use like teas in a batch or can I make up a shortages by mixing? And my final question, what is your recipe for Iced Tea? I don't have one, so if you have one to share, that would be great!

Martina

[DeneciePie]

I bring six cups of water to a boil in a non-reactive pot. Then I toss in 6-8 bags of tea. My pitcher holds six cups if my pitcher held more I would make a bigger batch. Just keep the ratio. Let the pot sit until it's cool, with the bags in it. Pour the tea into your pitcher and chill. If you like it sweet add your sweetener before chilling. Letting it steep makes it strong enough to stand some ice in the glass. Smell the bags to decide which ones would go well together. Its not rocket science. If a pot doesn't strike your fancy, pour it out and start another. The main thing is to have it pretty strong so the ice doesn't over dilute it too much. The older the tea the more flavor dries out of it. If its really old bags you may need to add extra bags.

Have lots available when gets hot!

DeneciePie

[Millymollymandy]

I buy it ready made because when I tried making it it tasted revolting - like cold tea !!!!

One thing that bugs me is that it doesn't appear to exist in England - no probs for me most of the time because I live in France and it's common as muck here, but very strange that it hasn't caught on over the channel. My fave is Volvic water with a hint of iced tea, as it's much less sweet than regular iced tea.

[ina]

One thing that bugs me is that it doesn't appear to exist in England - no probs for me most of the time because I live in France and it's common as muck here, but very strange that it hasn't caught on over the channel.

I dare say that might have something to do with the climate...

And anyway - I hate sweet tea. Water on its own is always more refreshing than anything with sugar in it. OK, maybe a dash of melon juice added - but that's as far as I would go!

And now for a nice hot cuppa!

[Millymollymandy]

I'm not sure about the climate having anything to do with it given the amount of fizzy (or not) cold drinks for sale in an average supermarket! Anyway, aren't you supposed to drink HOT tea in hot climates to cool you down? Oh and eat lots of spicy food to make you sweat. I can't figure it out myself as I just feel hotter.

[ina]

Yeah, I know - makes no sense to me, the Scots drinking those vast quantities of fizzy water with sugar and chemicals in it...

And today it's quite cool and drizzly, so I've been warding off the cold with curry and hot tea!

[Martina]

I bring six cups of water to a boil in a non-reactive pot. Then I toss in 6-8 bags of tea. My pitcher holds six cups if my pitcher held more I would make a bigger batch. Just keep the ratio. Let the pot sit until it's cool, with the bags in it. Pour the tea into your pitcher and chill. If you like it sweet add your sweetener before chilling. Letting it steep makes it strong enough to stand some ice in the glass. Smell the bags to decide which ones would go well together. Its not rocket science. If a pot doesn't strike your fancy, pour it out and start another. The main thing is to have it pretty strong so the ice doesn't over dilute it too much. The older the tea the more flavor dries out of it. If its really old bags you may need to add extra bags.

Have lots available when gets hot!

DeneciePie

Thanks DeneciePie, I am going to give it a go today as it is a beautiful day outside and Iced Tea would be nice.

[Martina]

Thanks for your input MMM and Ina.

I didn't realize that Iced Tea was difficult to find in the UK. I usually buy it here as one of those "just like homemade" brands, but I thought it would be nice to give "homemade" a real try. I also prefer my tea hot,but do enjoy it sweet .

With regards to the spicey food in hot weather, MMM, I think it has to do with the fact that spicies temporarily increase your metabolism, making you sweat, and sweating is your bodies way of keeping cool. At least that is what I have read. If it's really hot outside, though, I agree with Ina. There is nothing like a big glass of cold water

Cheers,
Martina

[snapdragon]

I buy it ready made because when I tried making it it tasted revolting - like cold tea !!!!

...

I find it needs some sort of acid in it - lemon juice, apple juice, or whatever takes your fancy, british tea's served with milk (as the acid to counteract the tea's alkalinity) but juice does the job too.
I often make a pot of strong tea - pour a couple of cups hot and later have what's left with lemon, sugar, and more water, either hot, or iced.

[Millymollymandy]

It was a long time ago and I think I followed a recipe, put in all the lemon and orange juice/slices whatever, but basically it just tasted of tea! Wheareas the ready made bought stuff tastes like a nice cold drink, albeit a bit too sweet. Oh maybe I will have another go just using less tea..... but then again I now have vast quantities of homemade redcurrant cordial to drink, which is very pink and rather too sweet (River Cottage recipe AND I put less sugar in than stated ) - but at least I know what ingredients are in it and it was very cheap!

Martina - I notice that spicy food warms me up in winter, which is great, but in summer if it is hot I don't want to feel even more hot and sticky!

[ina]

With regards to the spicey food in hot weather, MMM, I think it has to do with the fact that spicies temporarily increase your metabolism, making you sweat, and sweating is your bodies way of keeping cool.

Sorry, off topic, I know - but I think at least one of the reasons why spices are used more in hot climates is that food tends to go off more quickly, and the spices mask the off taste... Wasn't that the main reason why they were used in the past in temperate climates, too?

[Martina]

I buy it ready made because when I tried making it it tasted revolting - like cold tea !!!!

...

I find it needs some sort of acid in it - lemon juice, apple juice, or whatever takes your fancy, british tea's served with milk (as the acid to counteract the tea's alkalinity) but juice does the job too.
I often make a pot of strong tea - pour a couple of cups hot and later have what's left with lemon, sugar, and more water, either hot, or iced.

Hi,
So I gave it a go yesterday and found that it does need some sore of acid or bubbly stuff. I think I used too much tea or not enough water. It tasted o.k but I think i will need an actual recipe to follow that includes and acid or fizzy stuff of some sort. It was good though.

[Martina]

With regards to the spicey food in hot weather, MMM, I think it has to do with the fact that spicies temporarily increase your metabolism, making you sweat, and sweating is your bodies way of keeping cool.

Sorry, off topic, I know - but I think at least one of the reasons why spices are used more in hot climates is that food tends to go off more quickly, and the spices mask the off taste... Wasn't that the main reason why they were used in the past in temperate climates, too?

That could be Ina. Ooh now I will have to look it up. Although I thought salt played the role you describe above--as both a preserver and disguiser of slightly 'off' meat. I am going to go to trusty g**gle and look this up.

Have a nice day, everybody.
Martina