# Making Iced Tea - Your recipe/technique **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [November 16, 2010, 7:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/making-iced-tea-your-recipe-technique/560892 "2010-11-16T19:05:48Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![araminty](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/b5e925/32.png) [@araminty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/araminty)\ **Post date:** [November 17, 2010, 1:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/making-iced-tea-your-recipe-technique/560892/21 "2010-11-17T01:01:45Z")
> [@notfrommensa](#): > > snip (Lipton generic) There’s your problem. Do yourself a favour and get some REAL tea. My favourite brand is Dilmah, which you can buy online from [www.dilmahtea.com](http://www.dilmahtea.com) or, as I’ve recently discovered, Amazon. Brew it hot, then let it chill, before adding your sugar/lemon/lime. A little grate of the citrus zest adds a nice zing. ---
**Author:** ![SeaDragonTattoo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/df705f/32.png) [@SeaDragonTattoo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SeaDragonTattoo)\ **Post date:** [November 17, 2010, 1:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/making-iced-tea-your-recipe-technique/560892/22 "2010-11-17T01:07:49Z")
Cold brewing keeps tea (and coffee) from tasting bitter. Plus, it’s pretty much no effort. 3 Luzianne iced tea bags, pull off string and throw in gallon pitcher. Put pitcher under tap and fill with cold water. Put on lid and set on counter Leave for work or go to bed, whichever time of day applies When back from work or up from bed, put pitcher in fridge (pour some over ice if want a glass first) Repeat whenever pitcher empties I always laugh at people who actually buy a special “brewer” for iced tea. No offense if anyone here has one. When I told a co-worker about the above method, and that you can do the same with coffee in a french press to make iced coffee, it was truly a revelation for her. She always thought it was some effort or needed to boil water or some such, so never made any at home because she thought it would be a hassle. Now she has a pitcher like mine always full of iced tea in the fridge! ---
**Author:** ![JSexton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/96bed5/32.png) [@JSexton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JSexton)\ **Post date:** [November 17, 2010, 1:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/making-iced-tea-your-recipe-technique/560892/23 "2010-11-17T01:19:53Z")
The only reason to hot brew iced tea is to dissolve sugar in it. If you plan to drink it unsweetened (as I do) then coldbrewing is so much easier. Although if you do like it sweetened but want the convenience of coldbrewing, you can make up a big batch of simple syrup and keep that in the fridge as well. Just make your tea a bit strong to compensate for the extra water. ---
**Author:** ![Tangent](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tangent/32/3098_2.png) [@Tangent](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tangent)\ **Post date:** [November 17, 2010, 1:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/making-iced-tea-your-recipe-technique/560892/24 "2010-11-17T01:24:52Z")
> [@SeaDragonTattoo](#): > > I always laugh at people who actually buy a special “brewer” for iced tea. No offense if anyone here has one. No offense taken, but you can laugh all you want and I’ll still love my tea maker. I got it for about $15 at Wal-mart, so it wasn’t a major investment and I can brew up a pitcher at a moment’s notice–I’m not always good about planning ahead. 🙂 It’s very convenient and easy to use. The tea maker comes in especially handy when I’ve got a lot of guests for dinner. If we finish off one pitcher, it takes just a few minutes to have another full pitcher ready to go. Cold brewing can’t do that. ---
**Author:** ![aruvqan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aruvqan/32/2891_2.png) [@aruvqan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aruvqan)\ **Post date:** [November 17, 2010, 2:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/making-iced-tea-your-recipe-technique/560892/25 "2010-11-17T14:15:52Z")
> [@Tangent](#): > > I use a Mr. Coffee brand Iced Tea Maker. About half the water goes in the teamaker reservoir and the other half (either liquid or ice cubes) in the pitcher. Put a couple of family-sized tea bags in a coffee filter in the top of the teamaker along with a little bit of sugar (or not). Position the pitcher at the output, press a button and wait five minutes. Easy-peasy. Same, 8 stash teabags russian caravan, 2 teabags lemon zinger, 2 teabags peppermint ‘tea’. We loves out mr IceTea maker. Best investment. Though we use margarine tubs hijacked from Moms house to make ice pucks for it. Fill with water, pop a couple sprigs fresh mint and some slices lemon and freeze with the lid on. ---
**Author:** ![Tangent](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tangent/32/3098_2.png) [@Tangent](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tangent)\ **Post date:** [November 17, 2010, 2:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/making-iced-tea-your-recipe-technique/560892/26 "2010-11-17T14:45:30Z")
> [@aruvqan](#): > > Though we use margarine tubs hijacked from Moms house to make ice pucks for it. Fill with water, pop a couple sprigs fresh mint and some slices lemon and freeze with the lid on. Excellent idea! I’ll have to try that. ---
**Author:** ![Skywatcher](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skywatcher/32/254_2.png) [@Skywatcher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skywatcher)\ **Post date:** [November 17, 2010, 3:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/making-iced-tea-your-recipe-technique/560892/27 "2010-11-17T15:03:23Z")
Put tea bags (four or 5, depending on the type) and ½ cup of Splenda at the bottom of a gallon pitcher, add hot water out of the tap, and let steep for a bit. Then add cold water out of the tap, stir, and place in the fridge. ---
**Author:** ![Mollie\_Magill](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mollie_magill/32/20882_2.png) [@Mollie\_Magill](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mollie_Magill)\ **Post date:** [November 17, 2010, 4:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/making-iced-tea-your-recipe-technique/560892/28 "2010-11-17T16:50:26Z")
> [@Tangent](#): > > I use a Mr. Coffee brand Iced Tea Maker. About half the water goes in the teamaker reservoir and the other half (either liquid or ice cubes) in the pitcher. Put a couple of family-sized tea bags in a coffee filter in the top of the teamaker along with a little bit of sugar (or not). Position the pitcher at the output, press a button and wait five minutes. Easy-peasy. Add me in, too. I stir in a tablespoon of lemon juice, and a teaspoon and a half of equal. Good stuff, and it won’t rot out your teeth. ---
**Author:** ![hellpaso](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/ecae2f/32.png) [@hellpaso](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hellpaso)\ **Post date:** [November 17, 2010, 5:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/making-iced-tea-your-recipe-technique/560892/29 "2010-11-17T17:17:55Z")
I bring about half a teapot of water to a boil, throw in a large (family size) tea bag, let steep for a half hour (sometimes longer if I forget). Then I pour the tea into a gallon pitcher and fill with cold water. That’s it. Mr. HP drinks massive quantities of iced tea, so I do this at least 5 times a week. We don’t drink sweet tea. I like to have a glass now and then with half MinuteMaid Light lemonade mixed in. ---
**Author:** ![Casey1505](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/dc4da7/32.png) [@Casey1505](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Casey1505)\ **Post date:** [November 17, 2010, 6:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/making-iced-tea-your-recipe-technique/560892/30 "2010-11-17T18:21:09Z")
Pour about 1/4 inch or so of sugar in a 2 qt pot. Fill it with cold water. Bring it to a boil. Put in 10-12 teabags, whatever kind you like (regular old plain, mint, raspberry, whatever), steep for about 15 minutes, pour into gallon jug filled with ice, top off with cold water, enjoy. Easier to do it than to type directions. ---
**Author:** ![Lynn\_Bodoni](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/e47c2d/32.png) [@Lynn\_Bodoni](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lynn_Bodoni)\ **Post date:** [November 17, 2010, 6:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/making-iced-tea-your-recipe-technique/560892/31 "2010-11-17T18:31:43Z")
> [@Brynda](#): > > IMHO, luzianne is far better than lipton. Also, you are letting the bags steep for far longer than I would. Last suggestion is something I learned here: Unless you like some bitterness, don’t squeeze the tea bags when you take them out. I drink quite a bit of tea, and I’d rather skip drinking tea rather than drink Lipton. It tastes way too bitter to me. I generally make sun tea for iced tea. ---
**Author:** ![tr0psn4j](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/958977/32.png) [@tr0psn4j](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tr0psn4j)\ **Post date:** [November 17, 2010, 6:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/making-iced-tea-your-recipe-technique/560892/32 "2010-11-17T18:34:29Z")
If I’m going to make it, I go all out and make sweet tea instead. ---
**Author:** ![purplehorseshoe](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/purplehorseshoe/32/2996_2.png) [@purplehorseshoe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/purplehorseshoe)\ **Post date:** [November 17, 2010, 9:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/making-iced-tea-your-recipe-technique/560892/33 "2010-11-17T21:14:11Z")
> [@notfrommensa](#): > > I have been trying to cut down on my soft drink intake, so I have been making/drinking iced tea. > > This is how I do it. > > Bring a ~quart of water to a boil. Add three teabags (Lipton generic), remove from heat, and then let the water cool for 20-30 minutes, remove teabags, add some sugar (1/4 cup). Stir thoroughly to dissolve. > > Fill my 2 quart pitcher 1/2 of ice, pour the ‘sweet’ tea into pitcher, top off with water add a tablespoon of lemon juice and refrigerate. Voila, Iced tea, > > I don’t like unsweet tea, but the sweet tea at Southern Style restaurants is too sweet so I don’t use a whole a lot of sugar. > > Its is a great substitute for the 3-4 soft drinks. I have been drinking a day. And much cheaper too. About 15 cents for 2 quarts. And it satisfies my caffeine fix. > > Any recommendations to make it better? You might also considering adding one single flavored teabag with the black Lipton. I often make a big pitcher of black semi-sweet-tea very similar to yours, but add one green jasmine or Earl Grey bag. It adds a suble extra flavor without overwhelming the natural yumminess that is black tea. ---
**Author:** ![Cowgirl\_Jules](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/4af34b/32.png) [@Cowgirl\_Jules](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cowgirl_Jules)\ **Post date:** [November 17, 2010, 10:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/making-iced-tea-your-recipe-technique/560892/34 "2010-11-17T22:24:05Z")
> [@Lute Skywatcher](#): > > … add hot water out of the tap, and let steep for a bit. I’ve seen what comes out of the water heater, and I do not cook with that water. It’s sanitary; it won’t kill you (obviously,) but it’s sludgy and gross. The temperature changes cause all sorts of things to precipitate out of your water and collect on the bottom. I won’t even fill a pot to boil pasta with it, I always start from cold water. It’s fine for washing dishes with though. ---
**Author:** ![Slow\_Moving\_Vehicle](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/slow_moving_vehicle/32/291_2.png) [@Slow\_Moving\_Vehicle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Slow_Moving_Vehicle)\ **Post date:** [November 17, 2010, 10:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/making-iced-tea-your-recipe-technique/560892/35 "2010-11-17T22:29:41Z")
> [@notfrommensa](#): > > I have been trying to cut down on my soft drink intake, so I have been making/drinking iced tea. According to my mother-the-diabetic-nutrition-freak, sweetened tea is not that much better for you than soft drinks. Glycemically speaking, that is. I drink it by the gallon, but that’s just because I prefer it to soft drinks. ---
**Author:** ![Skywatcher](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skywatcher/32/254_2.png) [@Skywatcher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skywatcher)\ **Post date:** [November 17, 2010, 10:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/making-iced-tea-your-recipe-technique/560892/36 "2010-11-17T22:48:15Z")
> [@Cowgirl\_Jules](#): > > I’ve seen what comes out of the water heater, and I do not cook with that water. It’s sanitary; it won’t kill you (obviously,) but it’s sludgy and gross. That’s what faucet filters are for. ---
**Author:** ![KneadToKnow](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kneadtoknow/32/3999_2.png) [@KneadToKnow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KneadToKnow)\ **Post date:** [November 17, 2010, 11:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/making-iced-tea-your-recipe-technique/560892/37 "2010-11-17T23:15:56Z")
> [@Slow\_Moving\_Vehicle](#): > > According to my mother-the-diabetic-nutrition-freak, sweetened tea is not that much better for you than soft drinks. Glycemically speaking, that is. > > I drink it by the gallon, but that’s just because I prefer it to soft drinks. May I presume that by this she means _sugar_-sweetened tea? ---
**Author:** ![Cowgirl\_Jules](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/4af34b/32.png) [@Cowgirl\_Jules](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cowgirl_Jules)\ **Post date:** [November 17, 2010, 11:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/making-iced-tea-your-recipe-technique/560892/38 "2010-11-17T23:19:08Z")
> [@Lute Skywatcher](#): > > That’s what faucet filters are for. Oh, good point! ---
**Author:** ![SeaDragonTattoo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/df705f/32.png) [@SeaDragonTattoo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SeaDragonTattoo)\ **Post date:** [November 17, 2010, 11:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/making-iced-tea-your-recipe-technique/560892/39 "2010-11-17T23:44:16Z")
> [@Slow\_Moving\_Vehicle](#): > > According to my mother-the-diabetic-nutrition-freak, sweetened tea is not that much better for you than soft drinks. Glycemically speaking, that is. > > I drink it by the gallon, but that’s just because I prefer it to soft drinks. Doesn’t that apply more to the commercially sweetened tea, and to the more southern-style “sweet tea?” (like at McDonald’s - blech) A teaspoon added to 16 oz of tea adds 15 calories, rather than 180 or more calories for 12 oz of commercially sweetened stuff. Of course people should still be careful, but I like a teaspoon here and there though I usually just do the unsweetened thing. ---
**Author:** ![Uncle\_Brother\_Walker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/f08c70/32.png) [@Uncle\_Brother\_Walker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Uncle_Brother_Walker)\ **Post date:** [November 18, 2010, 12:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/making-iced-tea-your-recipe-technique/560892/40 "2010-11-18T00:03:58Z")
Count me in for using hot water to dissolve the sugar. I use an old coffee maker left by a former gf to heat the water. It beeps when done and has an auto shut off, so I don’t space out and forget that it gets hot. I boil one quart of water and throw it in the 2 qt jug. Pour the sugar on top of that and shake to dissolve while the second quart boils. Throw in 6 regular tea bags and let sit 10 minutes. Much more than that seems to taste bitter. I usually throw it in the fridge overnight to let it cool. I don’t drink coffee, so this is my caffeine fix. Also, I drink a lot of tea, so both my 2 qt plastic jugs have a slight brown tinge to them. I know they’re clean when I pull them out of the dishwasher, but they don’t look it. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/making-iced-tea-your-recipe-technique/560892.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/making-iced-tea-your-recipe-technique/560892.md?page=3)