How to make iced tea at home: recipes to make

Author: Alena Dorozhkina , unique tea specialist,
professional tea-tester

Quenching thirst in the summer heat requires a more careful approach to choosing drinks that should refresh and tone & mdash; preferably keeping the effect as long as possible. Of course, clean water & mdash; it is a practical and healthy option recommended by nutritionists to keep the body healthy and functional.

However, in the heat, you often want to treat yourself to something tasty. How to make delicious iced tea at home, what recipes do experts recommend and what is the secret of these drinks that help to cope with even the hottest weather? Now let's talk about everything.

In the catalog & laquo; RChK & raquo; collected the best fruit and berry, herbal, as well as black and green tea varieties, combinations of which with lemon, ice or mint, allow you to create original combinations even every day.

You will not only get a bright taste, but also benefit. Blends with fruits and berries are characterized by:

• high vitamin content;
• presence of minerals;
• low calorie content;
• presence of iron, magnesium, phosphorus and other trace elements;
• no caffeine.

A quick historical tour

It may seem a little strange, but not all inventions related to the noble plant are among the Asian achievements.

So, for example, chilled use & mdash; not forced, but conscious & mdash; first practiced in the American South, where climatic conditions meet the needs of bush plantations, but make it noticeably difficult to enjoy hot tea.

Some cookbooks published at the beginning of the century before last contain recipes for cold green tea, combined at home by housewives with liquor or claret.

Over time, more & laquo; massive & raquo; options involving the use of ice and sugar & mdash; some of them even became the prototype of modern brands of soft drinks familiar to everyone.

 

Ground Rules

There are several common recommendations to read before you start making iced tea:

• Water & mdash; only filtered, better & mdash; bottled.
• Infusion strength & mdash; significantly more than a typical tea party.
• Crushed leaves do not leave a residue that gives turbidity.
• To speed up cooling, just fill half of the container with a warm (but not cool) liquid that retains the taste of the infusion.
• Do not refrigerate the pitcher until 30-40 minutes later.
• Ice cubes must be placed on the bottom of the glass, and then pour the finished drink on top.

Serving dishes are also recommended to be pre-frozen, and for decor it is best to use pieces of fruit or berries.

How to make classic iced tea at home

The main components of the traditional formula & mdash; lemon (one medium citrus is enough) and mint (a couple of sprigs will suffice).

Standard ratio & mdash; 0.7 liters of water per three teaspoons of black brew and 20-25 grams of granulated sugar.

The infusion is aged for no more than five minutes, strained with a sieve, and then supplemented with lemon juice and mint leaves.

Cooling at room temperature does not take more than half an hour, after which the container should be left in the refrigerator for another couple of hours.

Serve with ice, in tall glasses or cups, also pre-cooled.

Decoration & mdash; based on personal preference, but usually a cut circle of lemon is used, just like in classic bar cocktails.

Black Tea Recipes

The ratio of 1 teaspoon per 200 ml of water is also relevant for other formulations, so it can be considered the standard for all of the following options.

Brew should be no more than seven minutes & mdash; this is enough to get a rich and strong infusion.

And, of course, do not use packaged analogues & mdash; taste will be noticeably worse.

Lemon drinks

The classic version has several variations to diversify the experience.

The popularity of citrus combination is due to the effect of quenching thirst and preventing dehydration, as well as excellent taste characteristics.

& laquo; Time & raquo;. The recipe for quick cooking offers to stand three slices of lemon in a brew, insisting them for about 30 minutes.

It is best to use clay dishes that provide a comfortable temperature.

& laquo; Sweet lemon & raquo;. A portion version at the rate of 50 ml of freshly squeezed juice per 150 ml of tea, with the addition of four tablespoons of sugar syrup.

Mix in a cooled container, cool and serve.

& laquo; Citrus coolness & raquo;. Add zest when brewing, strain aged infusion, put seedless pulp in cups. Remove from the freezer after light frost forms on the walls of the glasses.

Apple black tea

Preference is given to apples of acidic varieties, the taste properties of which are much better revealed during the cooking process. Standard ratio & mdash; one large fruit per liter of infusion.

& laquo; Fruit explosion & raquo;. The best option during the summer heat. An addition to the basic ingredients is assorted pears, bananas, peaches & mdash; based on personal taste.

Peels, seeds and seeds are removed in advance, after which the components must be cut into small pieces and covered with sugar (about 100 g). Wait for juice release (7-10 minutes), add 0.1 l of lemon fresh, pour over tea and send to the refrigerator until completely cooled.

& laquo; Mint apple & raquo;. Prepare the brew, mix hot with coarsely chopped mint sprigs, thin apple wedges, half a lemon and two tablespoons of granulated sugar. Serve with ice.

Orange black tea

Another option using citrus & mdash; an orange-based cold tea drink that will not only help quench your thirst, but is also guaranteed to cheer you up.

The cooking algorithm is simple:

• Rinse the large fruit and halve it.
• Cut one half into pieces with the zest.
• Cut the second part into wedges, laid out in glasses when serving.
• Mix brew, orange pulp, vanillin and mint in a container.
• Refrigerate for half an hour.

Before serving, add ice and fresh mint leaves that emphasize the taste of the original combination.

Honey iced tea

The recipe that has come down to us from the East helps to escape from the summer heat in the most comfortable and useful way. If desired, & mdash; complemented by lemon slices bringing a little sourness to the refreshing infusion.

For cooking, you will need a tablespoon of honey, 0.5 g of cardamom seeds, high-quality leaf brew of one of the black varieties, as well as 0.4 liters of boiling water. Loose ingredients are mixed in the infusion container.

The composition is cooled to room temperature and filtered through a sieve.

Late honey integration, carried out until complete dissolution, is determined by the desire to preserve the healing properties of the natural product. Feed & mdash; in iced glasses.

Cold mint

Adding mint to any drink & mdash; ensuring freshness, calming the nervous system and improving mood.

In addition, the plant has a characteristic recognizable aroma that creates a beneficial effect when consumed.

When cooking at home, any variety is suitable, as is the alternative in the form of lemon balm.

& laquo; Moroccan & raquo;. A composition with orange and lime, the zest of which is mixed with five chopped twigs, complemented by cloves (2 pieces), ginger (1/2 dessert spoon), half a lemon and cinnamon. Sugar & mdash; to taste, usually 40-50 grams is enough.

Poured with boiling water, the composition withstands two stages of cooling & mdash; first at room temperature, then in a freezer or refrigerator. Be sure to strain before submitting.

& laquo; Lemon mint & raquo;. Chopped mint leaves (about 20 g), as well as small and loose citrus zest are added to the strong infusion prepared in advance.

After a five-minute exposure, the drink includes a strained brew and one teaspoon of honey. When serving on the bottom of a glass, you should arrange ice cubes and lemon slices.

Ginger lime

A recipe whose main advantage is deservedly considered a refreshing effect, so necessary in summer.

The list of ingredients, as the name implies, includes ginger root (5 cm) and a couple of limes, supplemented by cranberry juice and 30-40 grams of sugar.

The preparation procedure is as follows:

• Clean the spine and coarsely grate.
• Cut several large ribbons of lime zest.
• Put everything in a saucepan, cover with water and bring to a boil.
• After sugar dissolution & mdash; remove from the stove, leave for a quarter of an hour, strain.

The finished syrup is mixed with the chilled infusion and cranberries just before serving.

How to brew cold tea with herbs

Herbal drinks can compensate for the lack of useful trace elements given away by the body during the circulation of liquids.

Traditional & mdash; combination of chamomile (1.5 tablespoons), lavender (2 tbsp) and mint (30 grams).

The ingredients must be grated in a cup until the juice appears, then poured with boiling water and left for 6-12 hours. Mix with pre-prepared brew in equal proportions.

Berry coolness

A couple of glasses of raspberries or strawberries is enough to make mashed potatoes.

The simplest option & mdash; Use a regular blender.

Add sugar and arrange the mixture in molds, then leave in the freezer until solidified.

When serving, add a few cubes of the resulting ice to the jug with tea. and half a liter of mineral water without gas. Decorate with lemon wedges and mint leaves.

If berries are not at hand and you do not want to cook a drink for a long time, you can always use the ready-made composition & ndash; for example, simply pour water over berry tea Raspberry Boom or fruit Brazen fruit and add ice for speedy cooling.

Berry-fruit

You can combine fruits and berries in a variety of ways & mdash; it all depends on personal preferences and the scope of imagination.

One of the most popular versions uses apple wedges, peach slices, half an orange and 200 grams of crushed strawberries.

Lettuce & raquo; serves as a great addition to the brew, creating a bright and unusual bouquet of tastes.

Peach

The main season for fruits in this category is July and August.

When preparing a cooling drink, you should choose the most juicy and ripe fruits, the taste characteristics of which will be emphasized by a tablespoon of sugar, 1/2 lemon and a sprig of mint.

Remember to remove the skin and bone before grinding the peaches. Add the finished sweetened puree to the tea infusion, squeeze the lemon and pour into the glasses.

Blueberry and lemon

Citrus works well with berries, so raspberries or currants may well be an alternative to blueberries.

Use a saute pan or small saucepan to create a base that will mix with a pre-prepared brew.

Place the selected container on a low heat, squeeze half a lemon into it, mix with one hundred grams of blueberry mass and simmer for 5-10 minutes.

After straining and cooling, & mdash; add to tea, spoon over honey, mix thoroughly and serve.

Tea spices

Another recommended combination with black brew & mdash; a combination of ginger (1 bite) and cinnamon (half a small spoon). Ideally & mdash; serve in a jug mixed with ice and lemon wedges sprinkled with brown sugar.

Green Tea Recipes

Pleasant taste, excellent thirst quenching, variety of combinations & mdash; all this determines the popularity of traditional leaf varieties in the preparation of chilled drinks.

Chamomile

One of the variations of the classic herbal composition, providing an infusion on chamomile flowers, for example, Tsarskaya & raquo;.

When served, frozen cubes are added to the brew along with apple pieces and a portion of runny honey. In case of allergy risk, the latter can be replaced with refined cane sugar.

Lemon

Squeeze the juice of a couple of citrus fruits, cut the pulp with zest and mix with sugar sand (2 teaspoons). Serve with ice, after mixing with large-leaf infusion, aged for at least a quarter of an hour.

Mint

Even if you are not in the village or in the country, but are sitting at home & mdash; it is usually not difficult to properly prepare delicious iced iced tea at home, it is not so difficult to do this.

It is enough to buy a couple of limes, get two sprigs of mint and stock up on high-quality brew. Add the ingredients one by one, at the end you can add 20-30 grams of sugar.

Strawberry lime

Another original combination. Three or four strawberries are enough for a serving, whipped in a blender with freshly squeezed juice of 1/2 citrus, mint leaves and sugar sand. After mixing, hold for about half an hour.

Tea drink recipes

Tea is not the only way to get the desired result. Alternative & mdash; herbal infusions, also great for hot weather.

Ice Carcade

Hibiscus, aka the Sudanese rose, is highly regarded in Arab countries for its tonic properties. For a classic recipe, 10-12 petals are enough, poured with a liter of warm water at night. Add ice and sugar syrup before use.

Refreshing Rooibos

An African drink with an unusual taste goes well with citrus, herbs and spices.

Standard preparation & mdash; 40 grams per 0.5 liters of barely boiled water, infused for five minutes.

& nbsp; Additional ingredients & mdash; lemon juice and mint leaves.

Iced tea from the & laquo; Russian Tea Company & raquo;

In the catalog & laquo; RChK & raquo; presents a variety of varieties suitable for creating truly fresh and tasty combinations. Choose the option that suits your preferences, or try one of the recommended recipes:

• & laquo; Berry Fresh & raquo; . A mixture combining raspberries, currants, blackberries, apple and strawberries & mdash; a great option for making a refreshing cold drink to help quench your thirst even on the hottest day.
• & laquo; Cherry oolong & raquo; . Large-leaved red variety with pronounced taste properties, perfectly harmonizing with pieces of pineapple and raspberry berries.
• & laquo; Strawberry Ice Cream & raquo; . A base for a rooibos-based cocktail, worth topping with 200g of mashed kiwi sweetened with half a cup of sugar. Serve with ice and mint.

To summarize

Natural and healthy drinking is always better than purchased combinations with flavors and dyes. Knowing how to make cold tea at home, you can always please yourself and your loved ones with original taste combinations.