5 Handy Tips for Making the Perfect Iced Tea
We recently wrote a blog post on creating your very own Fruit Popsicles, for the perfect way to stay hydrated and cool in the summer sun - especially for young children. It’s a good idea to also have cold and refreshing drinks to consume, alongside lollypops, as they help to keep your water levels up whilst being outside in the heat. Iced Tea has become a hugely popular drink of choice here in the UK in recent years, competing alongside coffee alternatives… as a new trend, we decided to put together a blog post providing you with top tips to creating the perfect Iced Tea!
Homemade recipes are great money-saving activities, providing family and friends with endless possibilities of flavour, blends and lots of health qualities too! These five rules will ensure you don’t make the classic mistakes that can inhibit your tea from being the best and that your summer taste buds won’t be disappointed! Yes! We are anticipating one last summery weekend once this rain clears today!
MAKE IT STRONG
When drinking your beverage in the summer sunshine, the ice will inevitably begin to melt under the heat and consequently, the water will begin to dilute the tea. To avoid this spoiling the taste and flavours of your drink, be sure to make your Iced Tea extra strong in the brewing stage. Over compensate buy using lots of tea bags, ensuring the colour of the tea is darker than you would normally serve. Don’t worry about it being too strong, this is the whole point - trust us!
TRY DIFFERENT TYPES OF TEA
Why settle for the classic black tea, when there are endless varieties of tea to choose from? Although black tea is tasty and a staple part of British culture, there are other flavours and styles you can try for a more exciting alternative. What is great about certain types of tea is their different beneficial health qualities, so depending on your mood, you can choose a tea to perfectly suit you and your needs. Whether it is Chai Iced Tea to soothe and relax, Green Tea for providing energy or Lemongrass for wellness remedies - there’s a different type of tea for all sorts of occasions. It is also a good idea, if hosting a summer party, to have an Iced Tea alternative that doesn’t contain caffeine - incase those prefer decaffeinated beverages, such as fruit tea.
ADD YOUR OWN FRUIT AND HERBS
You can also add your own fruit and herbs to tea to intensify their taste and create personal blends, depending on what you like! Slicing lemons and soaking them in the tea is a popular addition, and provides a natural sweetener too. Soaking mint leaves allows for a wonderful peppermint aroma and taste to tea which also provides a great remedy for colds. There really are no particular rules or regulations as to what you add to your Iced Tea concoction, just as long as its fresh! It is also a great way to present your beverage with garnishes, making it look even more appealing to friends and family… An ice cold jug of freshly cut lemons, ice cubes and a tasty tea blend is ideal for all occasions! You can present in quirky, stylish mason jars too for a sweet touch to your garden party.
SWEETEN WHEN WARM
If you want sweetened tea, there is a rule to follow to avoid disappointment! Granulated sugar will not melt properly in cold water, and will instead sit in its original form at the bottom of your tea container. To avoid this problem, simply sweeten the liquid when it is warm, so the sugar is able to evaporate into the drink. However, if you forget, you can add liquid sugar - such as agave - which will easily disintegrate. It can just be expensive and difficult to purchase, so be careful!
COOL BEFORE REFRIGERATING
Although this one isn’t essential and is based on preference, it does require time - so be sure to leave plenty when brewing and making your own Iced Tea. If you don’t allow your beverage to cool completely during the brewing process, it will become cloudy when refrigerated. To avoid this, simply give your drink time to cool and don’t rush. Although cloudy tea is not particularly bad, clear tea looks better - especially if you are serving to guests. It is also important to remember that Iced Tea is best served fresh, so do not keep for longer than 3 days - as it will lose natural, sweet flavours and become the opposite of refreshing and appealing.
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