Many people enjoy drinking iced tea, especially on a warm summer day. Iced tea can trace its roots back to the heat wave in the year 1904. A tea merchant named Richard Blechynden decided to serve tea over some ice during an expo in St. Louis. It was so refreshing that people realized that the tea could be enjoyed cold instead of the common hot methods. It quickly became an all-weather drink.
Iced tea can be sweetened by adding sugar. Many of the bottled iced teas you buy already have them in them for added flavor. Just open the bottle and enjoy. It is a refreshing drink when temperatures rise. Some of the popular flavors are peach, mango, strawberry, and raspberry iced tea. You can drink them decaf or not for a little energy boost when you need it.
If you’re more inclined to make your iced tea, there are two methods to try. The first way is called the cold soak method. With this method, a dried tea leaf must be placed in a clean container that has the appropriate amount of cold water. It should be refrigerated for six to seven hours, then strain into a second clean container. Alternatively, sugar and lemon can be added to sweeten it even more.
The second method of making iced tea is the hot steep method. A favorite way to do this is to double the amount of dried tea leaves that you would normally use for hot tea, infuse for about 5 minutes, then pour over an ice-filled glass. For best results, allow tea to cool before pouring over ice. Alternatively, you can try soaking it for about 5 minutes in hot water, and then pour it into a bowl with the same amount of cold water. This method will dilute the strong flavor of the tea and help prevent cloudiness.
Iced tea can be mixed with lemonade or your favorite fruit juices to create a fruity-flavored drink. Keep in mind that when doing this you need to make sure that the juice does not overpower the flavor of the tea, but instead complements it. Experiment with the mix ratios to get the most desired results. Once you get it right, you’ll be enjoying your icy drink while soaking up the warm sun.
