In Training: Kath's Guide to Making Iced Tea

In my last post I said I might do a step by step tutorial on how to make iced tea... then the lovely David said that I should, SO, here goes!

Kath's Guide to Making Iced Tea
with photos by Royal

Time: About 5 - 10 Minutes

You will need:

1 - 3 regular tea bags, it's 1 -3 depending on how strong you'd like your tea.
1 measuring cup - or anything that will hold hot liquid
Spoon
Kettle or microwave
Ice
Sugar/lemon/honey/mint, etc. (optional)
clingfilm (optional)

What we are going to do is make a concentrate that you will pour in a glass and then add ice & water to get your iced tea. We are not making an individual glass of tea (in case you were freaking out about 3 tea bags!). You will be able to save any extra - but we'll get to that later!

I mostly stick with any black tea, but you can use whatever you have - green, white, fruit, herbal, whatever. For this tea, I used 1 bag PG Tips and 1 Bigelow Raspberry Royale (for something different). Any combo works! That's the beauty of it!

There's really no right or wrong way to make iced tea - at least not this way. I don't ever measure how much water I heat (especially with the kettle, if there's a little extra in there I'll just have to have a hot wet later!). So get some water in that puppy (or in the measuring cup to be put in the micro) and turn it on.

While you're waiting, throw the tea in the measuring cup and get some glasses ready with ice.

When the water finishes, pour over the tea - OR for the microwave version you add the tea to the hot water. Pretty simple, right?!

Let it steep as long as you like, obviously the longer it sits for the stronger it will be. I tend to be impatient so I stand there and poke & prod it.

When you're ready, take out the tea bags. I steep about 2-3 minutes, sometimes 5. On the way out I always give it one last squish for more tea juice!

Next step: Sugar. If you are a sugar person, now is the time to add it. Sometimes I do, sometimes I don't. You can always add it later in the glass if you would like. If you have a group of people that's the way to go so everyone gets what they want.

Stir really well.

Add ice. I add just enough to cool it down a bit. You can add whatever suits you. Really I just put in enough so that it doesn't break any glass I might be using!

Now pour into the glass(es). Depending on the strength of your brew, you might want to add a little water. The ice will melt and weaken your tea as well. It's something you kinda have to play with, each person is different. This time around I went just under halfway.

Add more ice.

Little bit of water... normally I don't add water, but this was a bit stronger than usual.

Ta da!! I think the green plate and green glass take away from the gorgeousness that is this iced tea. It was lovely!

If you have extra - or if you made it for later - place some clingfilm over the top and put in the fridge. We will usually drink it for 1-3 days after. It's usually gone within 2 days though, we LOVE iced tea. Oh, and it's always better homemade than if you get it in a restaurant!

I hope this made sense to everyone... if you have any questions don't hesitate to comment! Basically, I think it's pretty much the same way that T.G.I. Friday's made mine in England, except um, NO MILK! Also, theirs was much too weak. It should be crisp in flavor.

Special thanks to my darling husband - you seriously are the best (even though you don't like any form of tea...)

And he's the British one in our little twosome of a family!