| Aug 17, 2006 @ 9:50 PM |
Genuine Southern Sweet Iced Tea
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definitelydi
Posts: 12,602
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Exactly how is it made and what makes it seem lighter and more refreshing?
I've always boiled my tea bags, making a concentrate, and then added water to taste.
So, Southerners...what's the secret?!
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| Aug 17, 2006 @ 10:02 PM |
Genuine Southern Sweet Iced Tea |
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Ensaged
Posts: 620
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It depends. The hardcore choose and grind their own tea leaves and use cheesecloth for a teabag. Everything from Orange Pekoe to Lemon peel to Baby green leaves. It depends on the person's taste.
Some people buy Luzianne, which is to me the only good store-bought teabag for ice tea. This is what I use and pretty much nothing else.
Then of course there is whether to use lemon or not. Personal preference. Some people use a slice of orange. Some like mint or other herbs.
I prefer no lemon or orange.
Then is sweetener. For true iced tea, you can't use artificial sweetener. I've come to prefer a dollop of Sourwood Honey from a local apiary (Sand Mountain Apiary that's just beyond the Georgia state border into Alabama). In a pinch, I'll take Clover Honey. Some people like powdered sugar as opposed to regular crystal sugar.
I even know people that prefer it unsweetened.
Then there's the glass. Always use glass containers, either tea glasses or Mason jars (or even Bell jars).
Plastic dilutes the taste for some reason. NO PLASTIC CONTAINERS!
And the ice. DO NOT USE crushed ice. Use cubes.
Is there one MAIN secret? No, just a combination of the above things.
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| Aug 18, 2006 @ 12:29 AM |
Genuine Southern Sweet Iced Tea
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redhairNfreckles
Posts: 4,694
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Here's the way I make it although lately I've been just making Solar Tea.
Bring to boil a BIG pot of water (mine could hold 8 Qts). After it boils, plop in about 12-15 regular sized teabags. Cover and let it steep for a couple of hours. Then add 5 cups of sugar! At least! (I like mine r e a l l y sweet). I also like to add a couple of freshly picked sprigs of mint from my mint patch that has been growing out by the barn for over 25 yrs. (in NC, not here). My next trip to NC in a week or so, I'm going to bring a bunch of it back and see how it will grow here in FL.
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| Aug 18, 2006 @ 3:44 PM |
Genuine Southern Sweet Iced Tea |
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Ensaged
Posts: 620
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The problem with Sun Tea is that it often doesn't "make" evenly.
Also, there's a problem with bacteria since the water only gets to 130 degrees F.
To kill all bacteria and destroy contaminating agents, like Alcaligenes viscolactis, the water needs to hit about 195 degrees F for about 5 minutes
Even if you use purified or filtered water, you still need to get that high temperature, because of the loose flying contaminants and infectives in the air.
My neighbor used Sun Tea until last summer when her granddaughter got an infection from improperly brewed tea.
That's why I know about the Sun Tea problem.
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| Aug 18, 2006 @ 4:25 PM |
Genuine Southern Sweet Iced Tea
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tahoma
Posts: 10,576
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There was just a segment on Teas on NPR over the weekend and they suggested if you wanted the same type of tea that sun tea produces you can cold brew it in the fridge and get about the same results. Without the problem of bacteria growth.
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| Aug 18, 2006 @ 5:05 PM |
Genuine Southern Sweet Iced Tea |
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Ensaged
Posts: 620
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Well, that's the thing. To release the flavor and then to have a proper "steep", you have to have heat.
Without heat, then you don't get good iced tea. Granted you can get a decent tea to drink, but not a true great iced tea.
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| Aug 18, 2006 @ 6:49 PM |
Genuine Southern Sweet Iced Tea
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redhairNfreckles
Posts: 4,694
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because of the loose flying contaminants and infectives in the air.
you mean some ppl actually don't put a cover on their jars when making solar tea???? YUK. Thanks for all of your info, but I'll still make the solar tea as a convenience.
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| Aug 18, 2006 @ 7:13 PM |
Genuine Southern Sweet Iced Tea |
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Ensaged
Posts: 620
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Just remember that the bacterial growth isn't always from the air. Consider your water and ingredients as well.
Just be careful.
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| Aug 19, 2006 @ 1:18 AM |
Genuine Southern Sweet Iced Tea
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redhairNfreckles
Posts: 4,694
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I will and thanks ^^^^^^^^^^
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| Aug 19, 2006 @ 3:08 AM |
Genuine Southern Sweet Iced Tea |
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Palomino
Posts: 7,635
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No sweetener...no citrus....just plain old tea. 
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| Aug 19, 2006 @ 12:31 PM |
Genuine Southern Sweet Iced Tea
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kattsmeow
Posts: 22,628
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I like Red Rose tea bags.
Try putting then in your coffe make,. run just like you would if you were making coffee.
Then pour it in a pitcher, put the sugar, in it. ( sugar will dissolve faster in hot water) then fill it up with ice and let sit. Taste, and if need be, more ice.
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| Aug 20, 2006 @ 1:09 AM |
Genuine Southern Sweet Iced Tea |
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SunBabe
Posts: 12,279
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Hey, what's wrong with Lipton's Iced Tea mix? The kind with lemon and sugar? It's easy and just plain fine! (if you're not happy with plain water) 
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| Aug 20, 2006 @ 11:56 AM |
Genuine Southern Sweet Iced Tea
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kattsmeow
Posts: 22,628
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Nothing wrong with Lipton Ice Tea. By the glass it works good. If you are going to make a bunch of it, it is easier by the bag.
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| Aug 20, 2006 @ 4:45 PM |
Genuine Southern Sweet Iced Tea |
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lookingforfun30
Posts: 104
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Sweet Iced Tea mmmmmm it is so good I had it in Atlanta. I know what kind your speaking of Di...it has different fruit in it and tastes so refreshing. Now Im interested in the recipe too
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| Aug 20, 2006 @ 10:59 PM |
Genuine Southern Sweet Iced Tea
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FunkyMonkey68
Posts: 450
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I use a big marichino cherry jar. I put about 5 family size tea bags in it. They have to be Luzianne tea bags. It makes about 4 quarts. Then I use 1 cup of splenda. It tastes so good over ice with a have a slice of lemon. If I want mint, I do the same thing but I put two cup size mint tea bags in the jar. It gives it a nice minty flavor.
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| Sep 13, 2006 @ 10:27 PM |
Genuine Southern Sweet Iced Tea |
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nah12
Posts: 3,973
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ahhhhhh folks it's simple....the trick is sugar and plenty of it....lol
ok here's the deal if you want to boil your water then you bring it to a boil and take it off the hot eye and add tea bags and cover it and let stand....then pour in a pitcher while it is still warm and add sugar and a little more cold water.
or you can be lazy like i do...i don't drink coffee so i use my coffee maker and pour in the water then throw the tea bag into the carafe and soon as it's done take it off the heating element and pour into a pitcher and add 1 cup of sugar and a little more cold water..... and true ice cubes are better because they don't water down the tea as much.....
and yes you can add lemon or some fresh squeezed orange or what ever flavor to doctor it but usually southern tea is just plain tea, lots of sugar and fresh lemon if you like lemon..... 
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| Sep 13, 2006 @ 11:25 PM |
Genuine Southern Sweet Iced Tea
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username57
Posts: 1,041
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I'm a Southern boy and I love my sweet tea. Hate to admit it, but I buy Purity tea by the gallon. It is better than Milo's to me and easier than making tea several times a week. I'm a single guy and I drink a lot of tea, what can I say? Oh...y'all gotta try mixing 75% sweet tea and 25% lemonade (again I prefer Purity brand). Served very cold. Awesome! Totally different than just a little lemon in your tea.
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| Sep 17, 2006 @ 9:42 AM |
Genuine Southern Sweet Iced Tea |
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FunkyMonkey68
Posts: 450
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I might have to try that User!
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| Sep 18, 2006 @ 11:42 PM |
Genuine Southern Sweet Iced Tea
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username57
Posts: 1,041
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Funky I bet you can't get good ol' Purity brand out there...hate it...you don't know what you are missing...and Purity ice cream! wow! right up there with Blue Bell and Mayfield! But do try the tea/lemonade thing...it is really good.
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| Mar 18 @ 3:47 PM |
Genuine Southern Sweet Iced Tea |
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lovestobake
Posts: 16
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Small tip, make ice cubes from the tea.
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