Iced tea became popular after the 1904 World’s Fair in Saint Louis, USA, after an employee (Richard Blechynden) became concerned because people were refusing to drink tea due to the heat and were asking for cold refreshments. That’s when he got the idea that guests might like it if he added ice to the tea. The guests were delighted and from then on, this drink was called “iced tea”.
Homemade iced tea is an extremely healthy drink for children, but also for adults and an excellent substitute for artificial fruit juices (it contains no preservatives, artificial colors or additives, and you can determine the amount of added sugar yourself).
Iced tea is the perfect drink on warm summer days. Not only does it refresh, but it can also reduce the risk of Alzheimer’s and diabetes, as well as maintain tooth and gum health and bone strength.
5 rules for the perfect homemade iced tea
Use fresh tea
Tea is rich in antioxidant flavonoids, which are most potent when the tea is fresh. Look for fresh tea in specialty stores or at the market, as the oils that give tea its flavor are lost over time. If you only want to consume tea in bags, look for pyramid-shaped bags, as they provide more space for the tea and its flavor to develop. If you can, use brands that specify exactly where the tea comes from.
Use distilled or filtered water
Tea should not be made with carbonated mineral water. Too many minerals from mineral water in contact with tea leaf ingredients can create a not-so-pleasant taste. Non-carbonated water, on the other hand, makes excellent tea.
Pay attention to temperature
To make black and darker teas, water should be boiled. But for green, white and lighter teas, the water should be colder: 75-80 degrees Celsius. If you prepare tea with boiling water, which actually needs colder water, the tea can have an unpleasant bitter taste.
Use enough tea
For one cup of tea you need one and a half to two teaspoons of tea with large leaves or flowers, such as chamomile tea. If you are making tea from thick and compact leaves, like most black teas, use one teaspoon. If you want to make iced tea and don’t have time to wait for it to cool, make it double strength to avoid dilution with ice cubes. Or chill it to room temperature and then put it in the refrigerator.
Let the tea steep long enough, but also not too long
If you let the tea steep too long, your drink may be dominated by tannins and other bitter ingredients. Black tea and darker teas should stand for 3-5 minutes, whereas 2-3 minutes is enough for green, white, and lighter teas. Herbal blends have little tannin, so they have less risk of standing too long.
When you buy industrial iced tea, it seems like everything is in it but tea and healthy ingredients. That’s why BesserMe is here to cool you down with new, healthy and easy recipes for iced tea.
Iced tea with orange and ginger
Ingredients:
- 500 ml water
- 5 green tea bags
- 2 tablespoons of ground ginger
- 3-4 tablespoons of honey or other sweeteners as desired
- 500 ml orange juice
- 250 ml lemon juice
- Ice
- Fresh mint leaves
Preparation:
After the water has boiled, add the tea bags and ginger, and let it stand for about 2 minutes. When the tea has cooled, pour it into a pitcher and add the lemon and orange juice and stir well. Add sweetener if desired as well as ice and a few mint leaves.
If you want to make another refreshment, then try making flavored ice.
Apple Iced Tea
Ingredients:
- 1 apple cut into slices
- 300 ml water
- 250 ml apple juice
- 2-3 teaspoons of tea leaves of your choice
- juice of 2 lemons
- 2 lemons cut into slices
- 2 tablespoons of honey or sweeteners of your choice
- Mint leaves
- Ice
Preparation:
Add the tea leaves before heating the water, then brew for about 3 minutes. Pour into a pitcher and let stand for 20 minutes, then add lemon juice and sweetener. Lastly add the lemon, apples, ice as well as mint leaves.
Pour into glasses and enjoy!
You can also complement this iced tea with flavored ice cubes.
Mint and lemon
Both plants have detoxifying properties, they cool and regenerate the organism perfectly.
Ingredients:
- 8 cups of water
- 6 bags of your favorite tea
- 1 bunch of fresh mint (about 1/4 cup of leaves)
- 3/4 cup sugar
- 1/4 cup fresh lemon juice
- 8 lemon slices
- 8 mint leaves for decoration (optional).
Preparation:
Boil 4 cups of water in a pot, then add tea bags and mint. Leave covered for 10 minutes. Pour the tea through a strainer into a pitcher. Mix the sugar and lemon juice in a separate bowl and add half a cup of hot tea. Then, stir until the sugar has melted. Pour everything into a pitcher, add the remaining tea, as well as 4 cups of cold water. Stir well, serve with ice, garnish with lemon slices and mint leaves.
Green tea with ginger
A healthy combination full of antioxidants that cleanses and refreshes the body.
Ingredients:
- 85 g ginger, unpeeled, sliced.
- 1 cup mint leaves
- 6 bags of green tea
- half a cup of honey
- 2 tablespoons of lemon juice
Preparation:
Put the ginger in a pot, mix with 6 glasses of water and boil it at the highest temperature. Remove from the heat, add the green tea bags, cover, and leave for 15 minutes.
Strain the tea and pour it into a pitcher, add honey and lemon and stir. Let everything cool well in the refrigerator. Serve with ice and fresh mint leaves.
What is your favorite iced tea recipe? We hope you have lots of fun trying them out and make the most out of these great refreshments!