What are some good recipes for making homemade ice tea?

Question

I want to start making home made ice tea and would love to learn how to do it. Any and all recipes are welcome. Thanks!

Answer 1

Iced tea is a traditional refreshing drink during the warm months, and one of my favorites. However, there is so much more you can do with tea to liven up your days and nights! Remember, too that presentation makes all the difference, whether you are entertaining others or treating yourself during a busy day. The idea is to make drinking tea relaxing and to pamper yourself a little bit, especially during the hectic days of summer.

A pretty chilled glass filled with ice cubes is the easiest way to start. Try these other additions to jazz up your iced tea:

*freeze whole strawberries to add to your drink.

*freeze edible flowers in your ice cubes such as violets, borage or scented geraniums. (Remember, not all flowers are edible)

*add a sprig of fresh mint or lemon balm to your drink

*a thin slice or lemon, orange or lime can be added also.

I have four recipes for you to try. They can be made and kept in a covered pitcher in the refrigerator for a refreshing drink throughout the day, or you can double the recipes for company. Enjoy!

Honey Apple Tea

4 black tea bags

1/3 cup honey

3 cups unsweetened apple juice

3 cups boiling water

Lemon slices

In a 2 quart pot, brew tea bags in boiling water. Remove bags, add honey and apple juice. Stir well. Pour over ice. Makes 6 to 8 servings.

Fruit Tea Punch

1 cup honey

1 cup orange juice

1/2 cup fresh lemon juice

1 cup fresh fruit, crushed

1 1/2 cups fresh, strong tea

1 pint ginger ale

Mix all ingredients except ginger ale. Just before serving add ginger ale and crushed ice. If the punch is too strong for your taste you can dilute with ice water or more ginger ale.

Cinnamon Apple Cooler

1 1/2 cups boiling water

6 Cinnamon Apple tea bags

3 tablespoons sugar

1 1/2 cups cold water

1 cup grape juice

2 teaspoons lemon juice

Club soda, chilled

In teapot, pour boiling water over teabags; cover and steep 5 minutes. Remove bags; stir in sugar and cool. In pitcher, combine tea, cold water and juices. Serve in ice-filled glasses with a splash of soda. Garnish, if desired, with lemon slices.

Strawberry Yogurt Cooler

2 rosehip tea bags

2 cups boiling water

2 cups plain lowfat yogurt

3 tablespoons honey

1 cup sliced strawberries

Steep the tea bags in a small teapot or bowl for 10 minutes, covered. Remove tea bags. Place the yogurt, berries, and honey in a blender. Blend until smooth. Add the tea to the yogurt mixture, and blend until smooth. Serve over ice.

Answer 2

I go the simple simple way.  I have a jug that I put hot water in out of the tap, then I drop in two tea bags, put it into the refrigerator and when it cools down, the tea seeps out of the bags. In an hour you have nicely chilled tea.  It turns out perfectly every time.  

You can also put water in a jug and set it out in the sun with tea bags in it. Sun tea is delish. Pour over ice to chill it.

And for sweet tea, I simmer water and dissolve 3/4 cup sugar in it until it's completely clear, pour into the jug, add more water, drop in two tea bags and pop it into the fridge.

That's it!

You really can't go wrong with making tea. Experiment and see how many tea bags you like and so on.  It doesn't have to be fancy. :)

Answer 3

On the box it will tell you how many tea bags per cup or gallon of water.......

To make sweet tea........put your sugar in the pitcher....add 2 cups of hot water and swish around........I then add what ever flavor of tea I am in the mood for.......orange pekoe tea bags are used the most in restaurants.........swish it around.....let it sit for about 20 minutes and add my cold water............