The fruit adds flavor but also makes the ice tea so pretty. This is the way I make it 98% of the time but when I’m making iced tea for an event or for guests, I like to add fresh fruit. At this point you can add ice and keep in the refrigerator. Once the tea is cool, you can start playing around with flavors.Īdd any juice of your preference (for a clear iced tea I like using apple juice but passionfruit, peach, apricot and berry juices are all excellent). This gives me nice strong tea without the bitterness that can come from leaving the tea bags in while the tea is cooling. How to make iced teaīrew the tea of your choice (I like using Rooibos tea or any type of strong black tea but you can use pretty much any tea you want) and allow to cool. I am always happy to oblige because I know that they are drinking something so much healthier than soda or other sugary drinks and it takes next to no time to make. When I haven’t made my homemade iced tea in a few days, they always ask for it. I have been making my own iced tea for ever and a day and my kids absolutely love it. Add any juice or fresh fruit you want to create a delicious, refreshing beverage. The good new is that it is normal and it doesn't affect the taste.Making your own homemade iced tea is easy and healthy. This means the homemade iced tea will become cloudy when you refrigerate it. In this recipe we bring the water to a rolling boil – so it gets pretty hot. So, if you steep your tea in room temperature water for several hours, it will stay clear but will likely be weaker in taste. The hotter the brewing temperature, the cloudier the tea. I read on that this is the cause:Ĭloudiness in tea is caused by caffeine and tannins bonding with each other when tea is refrigerated or iced.Īpparently, the cloudiness is tied to the temperature at which you brew the tea. The first time that I made this homemade iced tea recipe, I was surprised to find that the tea had become cloudy by the next morning. Each jar should be about three-quarters full, so you have room to add ice when you serve.Ĭlose each jar with the lid or cover your pitcher and place them in the refrigerator for several hours or overnight to cool down.ĭrink and enjoy! Is Your Homemade Iced Tea Cloudy? Pour the warm tea equally over the fruit in the mason jars. (Alternatively you can add 5 to 10 slices of fruit to a large pitcher.)Īfter 15 minutes of steeping (you can steep the homemade iced tea longer if you like it stronger), squeeze out the teabags and throw them away. Meanwhile, add a slice or two of fruit to 6 16-oz mason jars. I add in the sugar while the teabags are still steeping. The hot water will help it to dissolve quickly. While the water is still hot, stir in your sweetener. Let the teabags steep in the hot water for about 15 minutes. So, you can adjust your quantity to make however much iced tea that you want. Turn off the heat and toss in 10 teabags.īasically, use one teabag per cup of water.
In a large pot (I used this OXO Tri-Ply Stainless Steel Pro pot to make mine) bring 10 cups of water to a rolling boil. Now that you have your ingredients – the process is very simple. Oh yes – and if you are wondering about that gorgeous walnut cutting board in the background – it's this one from Virginia Boys Kitchens. But you can add peach, lime, mango – whatever you like. Traditionally, iced tea tastes great with some fresh lemon slices. To infuse a little flavor into your homemade iced tea – be sure to slice up some fresh fruit as well. But you can use honey, Splenda, Agave – whatever you like. I use regular granulated sugar, nothing fancy. If you like sweet tea, make sure you have your preferred sweetener on hand. I like these British Blend teabags for their robust flavor. Start with teabags that make a good, bold tea. Use this recipe to make a big batch of iced tea the day before you need it. I'll call this version of my homemade iced tea recipe – the make ahead method. When someone is thirsty, they open the jar, add some ice and they are good to go. I just fill them three quarters of the way up (leaving room for ice), add a slice of lemon, close them with a lid, and put them in the fridge.