{"id":1526919,"date":"2020-08-26T10:21:07","date_gmt":"2020-08-26T10:21:07","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.tasteofhome.com\/?p=1526919"},"modified":"2024-10-07T03:36:45","modified_gmt":"2024-10-07T08:36:45","slug":"how-to-make-perfect-iced-tea-at-home","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.tasteofhome.com\/article\/how-to-make-perfect-iced-tea-at-home\/","title":{"rendered":"How to Make Perfect Iced Tea at Home"},"content":{"rendered":"[dam-video dam-id=\"45606\"]\r\n\r\nIf you're not already making this summer staple at home, you'll thank yourself for learning how to make iced tea. It's surprisingly easy to whip up a Southern-style sweet tea<\/a> or a refreshing citrus-infused green tea that's less expensive and tastes fresher than store-bought bottled tea. Plus, making tea at home allows you to harness all the health benefits of tea<\/a> while controlling any added ingredients.\r\n\r\nThe only thing you'll have to do is decide what method to use!\r\n

The Best Methods for Making Iced Tea<\/h2>\r\n

Brew Hot Tea & Chill<\/h3>\r\nThis tea-brewing method is quick, easy and efficient. Simply combine hot water with loose-leaf tea or tea bags, let it steep, strain out the tea and refrigerate until cooled. This method also allows the greatest amount of customization because you get to taste the tea before cooling it. If it's too strong, add more water. Not strong enough? Let it steep<\/a> longer. The hot water does tend to bring out the bitterness and acidity levels in tea, though, so you may want more sweetener with hot brewed tea.\r\n

Cold Brew<\/h3>\r\nLike cold brew coffee, cold brew tea<\/a> promises a smoother experience with fewer tannins and less bitterness. You'll likely need to use less sweetener with cold brew tea, too, as the cold extraction process allows the tea to maintain its natural sweetness. It does take much longer than the hot tea method\u2014anywhere between 12 to 24 hours.\r\n

Sun Tea<\/h3>\r\nSun tea<\/a> follows the same principle as cold brew tea, but the brewing process happens in a sunny spot instead of in the refrigerator. Sun tea has a nostalgic feel to it, but there is a chance of bacterial growth from leaving the water and tea bags in the food safety \"danger zone\" of 40-140\u00b0F.\r\n\r\nYou can minimize the risk by thoroughly cleaning your container and sterilizing your tea bags. To sterilize the tea, pour enough boiling water over the tea bags to get them fully wet. Then, use our cold brew recipe but leave the tea in the sun for about six hours before straining out the tea and cooling in the refrigerator.\r\n

How to Make Iced Tea Using the Hot Brew Method<\/h2>\r\n\"Pitcher\r\n\r\nIced tea really only has two components\u2014water and tea\u2014so the ingredients have nowhere to hide. For best results, choose the highest quality ingredients you can find. Use filtered tap water or spring water, if possible. When it comes to the tea itself, we've found that loose-leaf tea produces a fuller-bodied tea, but tea bags will work in a pinch.\r\n\r\nThe basic ratio of water to tea varies depending on the amount of tea you're brewing. Of course, you can always increase or decrease the amount of tea, depending on your strength preference.\r\n\r\nFor small batch tea (up to four cups), use one cup of water per tea bag (or teaspoon loose-leaf tea).\r\n