Breakwater Edge's Ultimate Guide to Making Great Iced Tea
There’s nothing quite as refreshing as a tall glass of iced tea on a hot summer day. While it might seem as simple as brewing tea and adding ice, crafting the perfect iced tea involves a bit more finesse. Here’s a step-by-step guide to ensure your iced tea is always top-notch.
Step 1: Choose Your Tea
The foundation of great iced tea is selecting the right tea leaves. Here are some popular options:
- Black Tea: Classic and robust, it holds up well with ice. We suggest: Queen Mary.
- Green Tea: Light and refreshing, it’s perfect for a more delicate flavour. Our Green Dragon or Long Island Strawberry are both delightful.
- Herbal/Fruit Tea: Caffeine-free and available in a variety of flavours, from fruity to minty. Here are a couple of our favourites: Raspberry Lemon Verbena and Blueberry.
- White Tea: Subtle and sweet, ideal for a gentle iced tea. Our Pai Mu Tan hits the spot!
Step 2: Measure the Tea
For a litre of tea, use 6 slightly heaping teaspoons for black, green, and white teas, and 12 slightly heaping teaspoons for fruit and herbal teas.
Step 3: Boil the Water
Bring fresh, filtered water to a rolling boil. The water temperature is crucial:
- Black Tea: 100°C
- Green and White Tea: 75-85°C
- Herbal/Fruit Tea: 100°C
Step 4: Steep the Tea
Pour the boiling water over your loose leaf tea. Steep times vary:
- Black Tea: 3-5 minutes
- Green Tea: 2-3 minutes
- White Tea: 4-5 minutes
- Herbal/Fruit Tea: 5-10 minutes
Over-steeping can make your tea bitter (except fruit teas - they don't go bitter), so watch the clock.
Step 5: Sweeten (Optional)
If you like your iced tea sweetened, add sugar or your preferred sweetener while the tea is still hot. This helps the sweetener dissolve completely. Honey, agave nectar, or simple syrup are good alternatives to regular sugar.
Step 6: Cool the Tea
Fill a 1 litre (approximately 4 cups) pitcher with cold water. Strain the tea brew into the pitcher and add ice cubes to fill. Pro tip: freeze some of the brewed tea ahead of time to limit how much you dilute the tea.
Step 8: Garnish and Flavour
Enhance your iced tea with fresh garnishes or additional flavours:
- Citrus: Lemon, lime, or orange slices.
- Herbs: Mint, basil, or rosemary.
- Fruit: Berries, peach slices, or cucumber. Pro tip: Muddle some berries and put them in the bottom of your glass - yum!
Step 9: Serve
Pour your iced tea into glasses, add any desired garnishes, and enjoy! For a special touch, serve with a decorative stir stick or umbrella.
Tips for the Best Iced Tea
- Use Fresh Ingredients: Fresh tea leaves and high-quality water make a big difference.
- Avoid Over-Steeping: It’s better to steep too little than too much. You can always add more tea leaves for stronger flavour. Herbal/Fruit teas can be steeped longer without going bitter.
- Experiment with Blends: Mix different types of tea or add spices like cinnamon or ginger for unique flavours.
- Chill Properly: Let your tea cool gradually to prevent cloudiness.
With these steps, you’re well on your way to making the perfect iced tea. Whether you’re sipping it by the pool, serving it at a barbecue, or just enjoying a quiet moment on the porch, a great iced tea can elevate any experience.
Cheers to good tea!
Jennifer & Gail