Richelle's Iced Tea
Iced Tea Made Easy
I started making iced tea so long ago, I forget now. At my mother’s house we used to make it with frozen lemonade. It worked well and was no fail, I do not remember exactly how we used to make it. :(
Anyone popping in during a warm Spring day or Summer day can be guaranteed a glass of ice cold tea at my house. I have had more than one person walk out of their way to my house just for that.
As the kids grew older, iced tea became a treat, I was making it my own way, having tested many different methods till I myself liked it. I still make it daily during the hot days of Summer.
I think what I do might qualify in part as sun tea, I place the tea bags in a mason jar or pitcher and let them steep against a window (usually in the sun) for a minimum of 4 hours and maximum of a day. Because it is sun tea, the iced tea never tastes bitter and I add a lot less sugar to the mix.
Here is my recipe, of course, you can play with it, do what feels and tastes good!
Yield: ONE 2 LITER/2 Q. PITCHER
12 tea bags
2/3 c. sugar
½ cup lemon juice.
Steep the tea bags in approximately 6 cups cold water in a clear pitcher. Let it steep for a minimum of 4 hours in the sun or against a window. (Indirect sun works too!) Using cold water seems to be important, it keeps the tea nice and smooth in flavor.
Remove the tea bags from the water without squeezing too hard. Add the sugar and lemon juice, stir till the sugar is completely dissolved, add ice and water to measure 2 liter or 2 quarts.
Share and enjoy!
Tip : Using good quality tea is important, and using good quality lemon juice is also, I always use ReaLemon. Having tried other cheaper brands ruined the iced tea.
Making iced tea concentrate to save time:
I have gotten in the habit of making more than one recipe at a time, I use large mason jars and steep the tea in just enough water to have room for the sugar and lemon juice once I have removed the bags. Once the tea has steeped, I remove the bags from the mason jars, measure in the sugar and lemon juice, shake it till the sugar dissolves and place it in the fridge. To use, I pour it into a pitcher, add the ice and water to measure 2 liter/2 quarts and it's done.
This method also means I can make large quantities of the concentrate for parties and just add the water and ice when transferring it to the pitchers. It also means, I don’t have to make it daily anymore. It is also great to have on hand for unexpected guests.
Note: I do not know how long it keeps in the fridge, we always use it sooner than later.
