How to make iced tea

Sometimes it is worth sacrificing a few minutes of our time to make something homemade and not ready or packaged on the shelf. A homemade iced - tea made from quality tea leaves and pieces of fruit may be that most fresh and healthy for the diet. The benefits we get from a freshly made tea are numerous, because we consume a higher percentage of beneficial substances than ready-made teas such as polyphenols, vitamins, minerals and amino acids without containing sugar, sweeteners colorants, and preservatives.

So, we choose tea for a refreshing pick-me-up and add the ingredients we want such as fresh season fruits, honey, spices, herbs and more.

As the summer leaves slowly ... a cold tea still remains the most appropriate beverage to cool us!!

There are many ways to make cold tea. TeaTime propose you the two basic methods as well as tips and tricks to give more flavor and interest to the tea!

Method I: We make cold tea with hot water

1. Add 2 gr. tea leaves in 400 ml of hot or boiling water.
2. The steeping time is according to the recommended steeping time based on the type of tea.
3. Add sugar (white or brown), honey, lime, 2 - 3 leaves of mint or any other sweetener of your choice.
4. Place in refrigerator for at least 2 - 3 hours.

For those who can’t be a little bit patient, a little tip ... Double the dose of tea leaves by following exactly the same method! Fill a glass with a pile of cubes and strain!! So, the tea will cool down immediately without having to wait…

Method II: Make cold tea with cold water

1. Add 4 gr. tea leaves in 700 ml of cold water.
2. In a pitcher, allow the tea to sit for 30 minutes.
3. Store in refrigerator for at least 6 hours or all over the night.

All teas as well as many herbs can be prepared cold. However, there are some flavors and varieties of tea that stand out most in their cold version. Black, green tea flavored with citrus, fruits, herbs and spices are the most suitable choices for a cold tea. In addition, hibiscus, thistle, nettle, lemon verbena or even traditional mountain tea are some herbs that have beneficial properties and wonderful taste!

Tips

• Make juices from fresh fruit and add to the tea before putting it in the fridge. Especially, in the summer there are countless options!
• There is nothing more delicious and striking than a cold tea served with mint leaves and a slice of lime.
• Make ice cubes out of your tea! Pour cold or hot tea into ice tray and place in the freezer. So you are not going to dilute the tea with the regular water ice cubes!
• Make stevia syrup from dried leaves of stevia. Crush the leaves with your hands. For a glass of stevia syrup, use ¼ of the glass of crushed stevia leaves.

Enjoy!