Recipe: Perfect Iced Tea Recipes | Half The Woman I Was

Iced tea can be one of the most refreshing things to drink on a hot day. Particularly popular in America where it’s been drunk since the 1700’s, it’s not seen the same widespread enjoyment here, although it is enjoyed all over Europe and Asia.

Low in calories and high in anti-oxidants getting the perfect iced tea recipe is also quite healthy. According to the National Cancer Institute, the presence of catechins in tea may help in treating and preventing cancer. And according to the Linus Pauling Institute studies have shown that certain teas, especially green and oolong, may assist in weight loss.

So why not give this refreshing beverage a try, and to make sure your experience is enjoyable, try these handy hints for the perfect iced tea recipe.

1. Use Enough Tea Bags

When foods are served cold, the flavours become dulled. So stronger teas, like Darjeeling, Jasmine or green teas, work better when served cold. Use at least two tea bags for every 750mls of water for best results.

2. Don’t Over Steep

If you prefer your tea stronger, use more tea bags rather than lengthening the steeping time (which is usually only around a minute or two). Allowing tea to overstep brings out the tannins in the tea and can make it bitter. For weaker tea, use the same number of bags and simply reduce the steeping time for better flavour.

3. Add Sweetener to Hot Water

If you sweeten your tea, add the sweetener to the hot tea in order to dissolve the grains. If you prefer to sweeten your tea afterwards then make a simple syrup from your sweetener rather than use granules which will leave grains in your glass.

4. Cool Before Refrigerating

Putting hot tea into a cold fridge will often result in cloudy tea. Allow your tea to cool for at least 30 minutes before you refrigerate. If you do end up with cloudy tea sometimes adding a bit of boiling water to it can fix it.

5. Stay Real

Don’t use artificial juices or ‘fake’flavoured tea bags. Only use real fresh squeezed juices for the very best flavour.

6. Fresh is Best

Your perfect iced tea recipe tastes best when it is freshly made. Make only what you will drink in two or three days.

Iced Tea on a Hot Day

2 fruit tea bags (whatever is your preference)

12 mint leaves, torn

500 mls boiling water

500 mls unsweetened pineapple or other fruit juice, chilled

2 passionfruit, halved and pulp removed

2 cups ice cubes

250 mls diet ginger beer, chilled

1. Place tea bags and half the mint in a large, heatproof jug.

2. Add boiling water and steep (jiggle) tea bags for 1 minute then remove

3. Let tea cool for 30 minutes then refrigerate until cold.

4. In a 2 litre container add chilled tea, fruit juice, passionfruit pulp and mint.

5. Stir until passionfruit seeds separate and tea is well combined.

6. Chill until ready to serve.

7. To serve half-fill each glass with tea, add ice cubes and top with ginger beer.

Irish Apple-Teas

2 Irish breakfast tea bags

500 mls boiling water

1 cinnamon quill

½ Vanilla pod, split in half

500 mls clear unsweetened apple juice

½ red apple, sliced

½ lemon, sliced

Sweetener to taste

Crushed ice, mint sprigs and honey (optional), to serve

1. Place tea bags in a large, heatproof jug.

2. Add boiling water and steep (jiggle) tea bags for 1 minute then remove

3. Add cinnamon quills and vanilla bean and let tea cool for 30 minutes.

4. In a 2 litre container add tea, cinnamon quills, vanilla and apple juice, then cover and leave to chill and infuse overnight.

5. To serve pour the tea into a jug. Add the apple and lemon slices, crushed ice and mint sprigs, then serve with honey or a non-sugar sweetener if desired.