Making Southern Sweet Tea... How and Why

In the midst of summer in South Florida, most people are trying to find a way to stay cool. With temperatures ranging from low to mid 90’s on a normal day, you tend to stay thirsty! Some common summertime beverages include lemonade, sports drinks, water and my all time favorite SWEET ICED TEA. An ice cold glass of tea is just as good to me as jumping into a shaded swimming pool… but with a lot less hassle and no need for sun block.

I can’t remember a time growing up when my mother did not have a fresh pitcher of iced tea in the fridge. It was a staple throughout my childhood and continues to be in my own household. Our family consumes almost a pitcher a day. I find it to be a better alternative to soda and sometimes plain water gets boring.

There are many great reasons to drink tea.  Aside from it being refreshing and even relaxing, tea has been suggested to have many healthy benefits when consumed.  It has been said that tea contains properties that help in fighting cancer and heart disease, protect bones or strengthen the immune system.   Tea is not only naturally low in calories, but it also contains small amounts of vitamins, some to include carotene, folic acid and vitamin C. Tea also contains minerals like zinc and potassium, as well as antioxidants.

                Tea comes in several different varieties. The most common to include:  white, green, oolong and black.  It is the second most widely consumed beverage placing close behind water.  The earliest records of tea being consumed date back to the 10Century BC in China.  Almost all commercial teas sold in the Americas, Western Europe and Australia are blends. A blended tea just means that they combined more than one variety. Blended teas can usually generate a higher retail cost and a better taste.

You can find tea in different packaging options.  Happiness can be found whether choosing tea bags, loose leaf, compressed or instant tea.  There are many pre-brewed tea beverages on the market today as well.  I personally like the convenience of tea bags.  Other than the packaging options, tea also comes in many different flavors and infusions.  Flavored teas are a combination of the actual tea variety mixed with other plants such as fruits, flowers or herbs. 

                Today I am going to share with you my favorite recipe for brewing iced tea and a couple variations. I hope you enjoy these recipes and venture into trying a variety of different teas. 

Stuff you’ll need:

Iced tea maker with pitcher

Water

3 family size tea bags

Sugar or artificial sweetener

 Step 1:  Plug in the iced tea maker and fill pitcher with water up to the 3 quart fill line. Remove the brew basket. Pour water into the tea maker reservoir located under brew basket.  Water should not exceed the 3 quart fill line on the tea maker water window.

Step 2:  Place the removable brew basket into the tea maker, unwrap the tea bags and place into the brew basket.  Move the water dispensing arm over the brew basket. Close the lid. Adjust tea steeping control on front of tea maker to desired tea strength. (I use the strongest level)

Step 3:  Place the water pitcher under the dispensing hole and make sure that it is pressed as close as you can get it to the machine. Otherwise spillage will occur.  Press the BREW button to start. 

Step 4:  After the tea finishes brewing the indicator light (brew button) will turn off. Be very careful removing the pitcher from the maker because the tea is VERY HOT.  Open the tea maker lid so that it can cool off. CAUTION: HOT STEAM. 

At this point you can either add your desired amount of sugar or artificial sweetener unless you prefer your tea unsweetened.  If making sweet tea, go ahead and measure your sugar (I use 1.5 cups of sugar, use a lot less for artificial sweeteners) and pour right into the pitcher of tea. Stir until sweetener is completely dissolved. 

Step 5: (For both sweet and unsweetened) Fill the tea pitcher the rest of the way up with cold water up to the top 3 quart fill line. 

I always pour my finished sweet tea into a different pitcher with a lid for the refrigerator so that I can make another pitcher of unsweetened as well.

Pour into a glass filled with ice, drink and ENJOY!

Stuff you’ll need:

1 quart pot

Water

3 family size tea bags

Sugar or artificial sweetener

 Step 1:  Fill 1 quart pot approx 2/3 full with water.  Bring water to a boil.

Step 2:  Unwrap tea bags and place into boiling water.  Allow to boil a few more seconds then turn off burner.  Remove pot from hot burner and allow tea bags to steep in pot for an additional 5 minutes. 

Step 3:  Squeeze, remove and discard tea bags.  Add sweetener to taste (I use 1.5 cups of sugar, use a lot less for artificial sweeteners) and stir until dissolved. 

Step 4:  Pour into a pitcher and add enough water to fill pitcher up but leave room for a lid.  Refrigerate. 

Pour into an ice filled glass, drink and ENJOY!

Another way to brew tea without an electrical heat source is a way called sun tea.  Sun tea is prepared by placing tea bags into a jug or gallon water bottle filled with water and leaving it outside in the sun for several hours until tea has been steeped to desired strength.  Brewing tea in this manner can be dangerous because bacteria can grow inside the tea in these conditions.  I do not recommend taking a chance on this method.

Here is a great no heat alternative to sun tea...

Stuff you’ll need:

Pitcher or gallon jug

Water

4-6 regular tea bags

 Step 1:  Fill pitcher with cold water about an inch or so from the top.

Step 2:  Unwrap tea bags and place them hanging inside the pitcher submerged in the water.  Leave the strings hanging on the outside of pitcher for easy removal.  Refrigerate for a minimum of 6 hours.

Step 3:  Squeeze tea bags into pitcher and then discard them. Sweeten to taste.

Pour into glass, drink and ENJOY!