Ice Tea, home made, who makes it?

[MadPlumbarian]

Ice tea is basically all I drink, I make it myself but it's just a add to water and stir, well today I made myself a pitcher of homemade brew, made over boiling water, tea bags, sugar, pinch of baking soda, and now chilling in the fridg, I was wondering if anyone on here makes there own brew and what there measurements are? I remembered back in another state MickyDs had that sun tea, a large foam cup for a buck, I don't know if they still sell it, it's just been that long since I've been to one, but that was freaking perfect(sweetened) gotta be sweet! Can you use Splenda sweetener instead of sugar? Cause being on this diet, the wife's not going to allow much more of this, the one I've been drinking is flavored water, and doesn't have anything to it, that why I'm kinda running board of it, and would like to get some some real flavored tea, but just gotta keep the calories on a down low.. Anyone make there own home made tea? JR

[detron]

I also home brew my tea, and growing up in North Carolina, mine is also sweet.

I do not really have a measurement.  I boil water, add bags, and add sugar to taste.  (too much sugar  )

I would estimate there to be between 3 and 3 cups per gallon.

never added baking soda, I might try it, but explain why you do it please.

[MadPlumbarian]

This started me, on making it and then I watched the video below it. JR
http://cravingcomfort.blogspot.com/2012/07/sweet-tea.html

[MadPlumbarian]

Bump,, only one other person makes home made ice tea? Bummer, JR

[comis]

I too sometimes make iced tea but with a little twist--crystallized sugar(rock candy sugar), green tea and chrysanthemum.  A perfect hot summer drink after chilled.

[Aloha]

im lazy so I use the lipton cold brew bags and I don't add sugar at all.  I do like to add lemonaid to it tho/Arnold Palmer

[MadPlumbarian]

im lazy so I use the lipton cold brew bags and I don't add sugar at all.  I do like to add lemonaid to it tho/Arnold Palmer

Hmm, cold brew, never herd of that, is it sweet? The ones I use now, you basically just fill a pitcher, dump the packet in and mix, there's normal, raspberry, and peach, don't get me wrong, they taste great but there just a flav additive, and just ain't the same! JR

[Aloha]

these are standard tea bags that allow you to make iced tea without having to hot brew it first then cool it.  you fill pitcher with cold water and add tea bag for recommended time and viola.  you can add sugar as im sure most do but I don't seem to care for it actually.  I will as mentioned add a 50/50 mix iced tea/lemonaide from time to time. 

[MadPlumbarian]

these are standard tea bags that allow you to make iced tea without having to hot brew it first then cool it.  you fill pitcher with cold water and add tea bag for recommended time and viola.  you can add sugar as im sure most do but I don't seem to care for it actually.  I will as mentioned add a 50/50 mix iced tea/lemonaide from time to time.

But the sugar doesn't melt or disintegrate in the cold water, so that's basically where I sit now, with the additive, but that would be a cool idea, for us lazy people! JR

[Grathr]

I brew my own ice tea every now and then. In my opinion you dont really need that much sugar. Too much ruins the taste. I usually add some squeesed lemon juice for extra taste.

[AimlessWanderer]

Tea hot
Beer cold

 

[CanadianLMfan]

Great vids!

[Pacu]

I do..i use a tea kettle, drop in a large family size Community tea bag, low and slow boil, 2 cups of sugar in a 3 liter pitcher, pour hot tea over sugar to blend, add water to top of jug. Chill and drink.

[bnsfham]

We drink so much, even the kids all know how to make it. We drop in 8 tea bags, into a small sauce pan, boil, remove from heat, pour into a gallon pitcher filled halfway with ice and 1 cup of sugar, and fill the rest with water. The ice cools it pretty darn quick, and didn't even know it was boiling by the time you get your glass poured.

[ironraven]

Baking soda? Never tried that.

I'm usually lazy, so I buy. I'm sorry, I've sinned, I know better, I really do. When I do make it myself, I hot brew and usually use Celestials Morning Thunder (black tea with mete),  no lemon, sugar. Or their Madagascar Vanilla which is a rooibos tea, with sugar. Or a good mint tea with honey and lemon. Or any quality English breakfast or earl grey or lady grey blend with honey and lemon. Bigelow also has some chai blends that I find work well, which also needs honey or sugar, but pretty much are a brew, chill, serve- they don't do well in the fridge more than 24 hours or the flavors fade too much.

But I also like the cheap, nasty, oversweet instant stuff.

Cold and sun brewing I've tried, not sold on the results.

[JAfromMn]

I'm hooked on coke-cola but this topic has my interest

I like hot tea in the winter but still mostly a coke drinker  .

tea would be a healthier drink.

[Aloha]

to add sugar to cold beverage make a simple sugar,  2 parts water and 1 part granulated sugar is good for most chilled beverages like tea and lemonade.  lots of easy recipes online but its basically water brought to a boil then add sugar and turn down heat to low and stir till sugar dissolves.  you can add corn syrup once cooled to keep mixture fluid and store in fridge till needed.

I drink a lot of water all day so when home I like carbonated beverages but try to stay away from soft drinks.  I like san pellegrino, Perrier, and theres one at my local super market but I forget the name, its a fruit water with carbonation.       

[ToolJoe]

        Cold brew Lipton bags for me. I drink it straight with no sugar but do add lemon juice sometimes.

[MadPlumbarian]

I was at the store today and bought some off the counter lemon flav ice tea, probably won't like it but heck it was on sale for $.67, and yes the date is good! But I also picked up sports drinks cause I need something for this cold which is kicking my butt, on another note, while out we went to a MickyDs to let our friends kids play in the kids playpen, and they had the sweet tea, OMG I couldn't get enough, made sure I refilled it before I left! Mmmm, loving it ! JR

[Threeme2189]

I drink ice tea all the time!
To make a cup I just put a tea bag in a large mug, add sugar and fill 1/3 with boiling water.
Steep it for a minute, stir  and add ice.
It also works well with instant coffee and milk.

Yum!

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