June is here, along with hot weather. So it's only appropriate that June is National Iced Tea Month!
Down here on the Jersey Shore, the summer season has officially started. The crowds, the Bennies, the congested Parkway are all standard fare each weekend, as thousands of of people flock to the shore. And what better way to cool off from afternoons at the beach (or hours stuck in traffic) than with a refreshing glass of iced tea!
Iced tea makes up for approximately 85% of all tea consumption here in the US. Considering the increasing popularity in regular hot tea, that's a lot of ice cubes! Of course, with so many companies offering Ready-To-Drink bottled versions of iced teas along side sodas and energy drinks, it's easy to get iced tea in any store, deli or gas station. While some companies have expanded their selection and treatment of iced teas, these overly sweetened and artificially flavored versions are a poor substitute for the real thing.
For those who truly enjoy the taste of tea and are looking for a non-sugary alternative to cooling down, experiment with making your own iced tea.
1. Start Small
Be it black, green, red or white tea, it you like it hot, then why not try it cold? Because not every tea tastes good cold and iced, starting small is a good idea. Why waste otherwise good tea if you're not going to like it? Brew a cup of your favorite tea and stick it in the fridge. Drink when cold. If you like it, make a whole pot next.
2. Sweeten early
The best way to get a sweeter iced tea is to add your sugar, honey or stevia into the tea while it's still hot so that it can dissolve evenly. This is true whether making one cup or a whole pot. Adding sugar afterward does very little to actually sweeten the tea.
3. Brew it Stronger
Because of the ice that will be in the glass when you pour and serve your iced tea, it is a good idea to brew your iced tea stronger that you normally would. Whether that's using more tea or longer steeping times is all a matter of taste. Experimentation is key! Let your taste buds guide you.
4. Party Down
Making a batch of homemade iced tea is the perfect thing to bring to any party. Not only is the real thing a treat for people, but iced tea doubles a unique cocktail mixer. Adding bourbon or spiced rum to iced tea makes for festive summer time concoctions. Get creative with a splash of club soda and fruit garnishes. And with all the exotic tea blends that you can use to make the iced tea, you'll create one-of-a-kind drinks.
So no matter if you like your iced teas fruity or minty or spicy, there's a refreshing way to keep it cool all summer long.
Comments
Good tip for adding the sugar/sweetener when the tea is still hot, never thought about it before.
Very well written article. I love your style. When I wrote the National Iced Tea month article, I could not find any tea examiner articles to link back to. Thank you for linking to mine. I am going to link back to yours now that it is published.
Not sure how to respond to your comment about my article, but I will definitely link this article to mine. And, I would love to meet. Might try to get to event at Novelteas on Friday. If not, e-mail me and let's set a date.
Margaret
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