Iced Tea: an American Beverage



One swelteringly hot day, during the St. Louis Exposition in 1904, a tea vendor couldn't entice anyone to try his teas despite the fact that hot tea is served during warm months in his native land. Feeling the humidity, and the rebuff, acutely, he asked for some ice from the neighboring ice cream vendor, put some into a cup of tea, and voila! - a new tradition was born. Crying out to the crowd, "Cool off here," before long, people were queuing up to try this new "American" beverage, iced tea.
Today, iced teas make up 85 percent of the entire U.S. tea market. It's not just for summertime hot months, either, as iced tea is now consumed year round. Iced tea is no time to skimp on quality, though. The finest tea makes the best brew, whether hot or iced. And, as always, quality tea, whether loose leaf or in teabags, is among the most economical beverages. Besides, who deserves quality iced tea more than you?
Here are a few exciting iced tea recipes, just in time for summer:
Quick and Easy
Your clever friends at Adagio Teas have put together an elegant and simple way to make iced tea effortlessly, economically, and quickly. I confess that I'll probably never do my sun tea again; it makes great tea but obviously takes hours. The Iced Tea Duo method takes less than ten minutes!
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Sun Tea
One of the most popular ways to serve iced tea in the southwest is Sun Tea. Set out a clear gallon jar of spring water on the sunniest spot around your home. Place a few teabags of orange pekoe inside the jar. They will infuse the water without bitterness while it "bakes", usually between morning and noon, just in time for a thirst quenching lunchtime drink. For an added twist, use ice cubes made with tea or orange juice. A sprig of mint and rimming a glass with sugar makes sun tea even more special.
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Tea Sangria
Do you like sangria but don't want the alcohol? Make a Tea Sangria! Start with your favorite black iced tea, and then add sliced fresh fruit like oranges, limes, whole berries, and chill in the refrigerator until ready to serve. Great to look at, and delicious to drink, too.
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Tea with a Twist
Who said iced tea has to be made only from plain black tea? Why not put your favorite blackcurrant, passionfruit or other fruit enhanced black tea on ice? It's a silky, delicious way to make a dessert out of tea. For super rich flavor, add a teaspoon or two of sweet condensed milk or cream; sinfully delicious. Although you can add ice cubes, the fruit flavoring mixed with the chilled milk makes a satisfying drink as is. Because it is so rich tasting, pouring it in cups is both elegant and generous serving style. Yields two cups.
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Green is Delicious Iced, Too!
Because green teas are generally made at lower temperatures, making it into iced tea is quicker and simpler because there is less time required for brewing, and the lower temperature requires less time to chill.
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Chill cups in freezer.