Iced Tea

[FalafelsRule]

I have always made my tea hot. Yesterday, at a vegan potluck, there were a good 6 organic teas out, all iced. So, iced tea experts, how many tea bags do you use for 64 ounces worth? How much turbinado sugar (I like mine sweet)?

[Artichoke47]

I imagine it's different for everybody, FR, depending on how strong you like it.

[FalafelsRule]

How about in between strong and weak?

[FarmerStephen]

I actually just posted so there would be these three new blue avatars all in a row *weird*

In answer to your question FR, I'm with Arti, it depends on preferance, and most importantly, tea variety and brand.

My fave iced tea, sweet mint, or hibiscus.......yuuuuuummmmmmm

p.s. - I hope you both retire your old avatars to Peaceful Acres

[grog]

can't resist...nonsensical sequitur....

I hear this guy likes his tea cold...too cold.

[trichaos]

And also different for every flavor.. when I ice my jasmine tea, I have to use more bags than regular green tea to get my desired potency. Sometimes you just gotta experiment, mess up a few times, until you finally find the way you likes it.

[FalafelsRule]

@ Grog.

[FalafelsRule]

Originally Posted by trichaos And also different for every flavor.. when I ice my jasmine tea, I have to use more bags than regular green tea to get my desired potency. Sometimes you just gotta experiment, mess up a few times, until you finally find the way you likes it.

I don't want to mess up.

I do not have a particular flavor in mind either. I was going to pick up whatever catches my eye next time I go shopping. I am assuming 8 bags will do and 16 teaspoons of turbinado, just wanted to verify.

Originally Posted by FarmerStephen I hope you both retire your old avatars to Peaceful Acres

I don't even have it anymore.

[Artichoke47]

Wild Oats was out of Asian-style green tea.

I can't give you advice, really, FR, because when I've made it, I made one cup at a time, with two tea bags (about 1 1/2 cups water), let it cool for a bit after steeping, and then iced it. I've never made enough for a crowd or a jug or anything.

[kkohne]

Generally I use one normal sized herbal teabag for every 8 or 10 ounces of water. If I'm using "regular" tea i like it a bit weaker so I'll use a bit less. Hope that helps!

[Sammie]

Originally Posted by kkohne Generally I use one normal sized herbal teabag for every 8 or 10 ounces of water. If I'm using "regular" tea i like it a bit weaker so I'll use a bit less. Hope that helps!

Falafels..............I was just going to write what KKohne did. Generallly, It's one tea bag per 8 ounces. Rememebr, herbal takes a little longer to brew than green or blak tea. If you over brew black or green, it can be bitter. But with herb teas.......the longer you steap.....the more intense the flavor...

[ohbugs]

Originally Posted by FalafelsRule I have always made my tea hot. Yesterday, at a vegan potluck, there were a good 6 organic teas out, all iced. So, iced tea experts, how many tea bags do you use for 64 ounces worth? How much turbinado sugar (I like mine sweet)?

Don't forget to put the sugar in while the water is still hot! Turbinado sugar doesn't dissolve well when the tea is already iced. These things are always learned the hard way.

[herbi]

I never liked iced tea, but I was taught how to make it the way the rest of the family likes it, which is VERY strong and VERY sweet (think tea-flavored KoolAid ). Our official white-trash recipe is to take 4 standard Lipton teabags, tie them together and loop the strings around the handle of your smallest sauce-pot, fill it with water, and then boil the **** out of it for at least 5 minutes. You will have very dark very strong very hot tea at that point. Smush the excess water out of the teabags, add a good 1/2 cup (maybe more?) of sugar to the hot water to make a syrup, and then put it in a big ol' 2-quart pitcher with enough ice (which will of course instantly melt but will cool it off significantly) and cold water to fill the pitcher. Refrigerate and drink over even more ice. Voila. It smells great, but I never could drink the stuff. Also, at that strength, it stains everything it comes in contact with-- we had a designated tea pitcher and tea-stirring spoon. Guests have been known to water it down before drinking!

My grandma also makes "sun tea" by putting several tea bags in a big jug of water outside during the summer until it's as dark as she wants it, and then sugars and refrigerates that. I always thought that was kind of cool, but I still never liked the taste.

[jenzie]

I love love love iced tea! And I make some mighty fine tea! I've "converted" three people, formerly of the "I don't like iced tea" camp into full-on iced tea madness. Aw yeah.

I use four tea bags per pitcher, and about two tablespoons of raw sugar.

[jenzie]

Originally Posted by herbi I never liked iced tea, but I was taught how to make it the way the rest of the family likes it, which is VERY strong and VERY sweet (think tea-flavored KoolAid ). Our official white-trash recipe is to take 4 standard Lipton teabags, tie them together and loop the strings around the handle of your smallest sauce-pot, fill it with water, and then boil the **** out of it for at least 5 minutes. You will have very dark very strong very hot tea at that point. Smush the excess water out of the teabags, add a good 1/2 cup (maybe more?) of sugar to the hot water to make a syrup, and then put it in a big ol' 2-quart pitcher with enough ice (which will of course instantly melt but will cool it off significantly) and cold water to fill the pitcher. Refrigerate and drink over even more ice. Voila. It smells great, but I never could drink the stuff. Also, at that strength, it stains everything it comes in contact with-- we had a designated tea pitcher and tea-stirring spoon. Guests have been known to water it down before drinking!

Hee! This is like my Mom - she adds a whole cup of sugar to every pitcher!