# Really strong (iced) tea and ice

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/really-strong-iced-tea-and-ice/8373>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [March 9, 2000, 1:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/really-strong-iced-tea-and-ice/8373 "2000-03-09T13:58:00Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 5\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![phouka](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/c5a1d2/32.png) [@phouka](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/phouka)\
**Post date:** [March 9, 2000, 1:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/really-strong-iced-tea-and-ice/8373/1 "2000-03-09T13:58:00Z")

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I’m a big iced tea drinker, and one annoying little thing I’ve noticed is that if I get freshly-brewed, strong iced tea, it melts all my ice in just a couple of seconds. It’s not hot - which I would understand, with the heat transfer and all - it’s just very, very strong tea.

What causes that? Is it some sort of accelerated osmosis (she asked, pulling a technical term out of her hat)?

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**Author:** ![salinqmind](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/3ec8ea/32.png) [@salinqmind](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/salinqmind)\
**Post date:** [March 9, 2000, 3:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/really-strong-iced-tea-and-ice/8373/2 "2000-03-09T15:09:00Z")

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I dunno, but I find ice melts quickly in most room temperature drinks. You could make ice cubes out of lemonade or iced tea if the melted ice dilutes it too much.

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**Author:** ![starfish](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/87869e/32.png) [@starfish](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/starfish)\
**Post date:** [March 10, 2000, 1:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/really-strong-iced-tea-and-ice/8373/3 "2000-03-10T13:57:00Z")

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Fresh brewed tea is hot. Even “sun tea” gets warm from the sun shining on the closed jar.

This hot/warm tea melts your ice faster.

After a while, the tea cools to room temperature and the ice will last longer.

Also, the tea made with hot water will be stronger than tea made with warm water.

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**Author:** ![Chef\_Troy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/85f322/32.png) [@Chef\_Troy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chef_Troy)\
**Post date:** [March 10, 2000, 2:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/really-strong-iced-tea-and-ice/8373/4 "2000-03-10T14:01:00Z")

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I always make half as much tea as I want, but double strength; then I fill the pitcher with ice the rest of the way while the tea is still hot and stir til it melts. Voila! Cold tea at the correct strength, to which you can add more ice by the glass without fear.

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Live a Lush Life  
Da Chef

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**Author:** ![Chef\_Troy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/85f322/32.png) [@Chef\_Troy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chef_Troy)\
**Post date:** [March 10, 2000, 2:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/really-strong-iced-tea-and-ice/8373/5 "2000-03-10T14:03:00Z")

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By the way, DON’T try my technique above in a glass pitcher. I once had one shatter in my hand while I stirred.

Making ice cubes out of tea is also a great idea. I’ll have to try that.

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Live a Lush Life  
Da Chef