Iced tea

Iced tea is an American invention traditionally prepared by steeping hot tea using 50% more tea than normally used and pouring the tea over ice in tall glasses. Now iced tea have become a leading beverage in North America. Half the tea consumed in United States is in iced form.

It is popular in hot climates. Refrigerated tea tend to cloud which does not affect taste but is less attractive. Iced tea serve chilled over ice cubes.

Iced tea can be served straight up, sweetened or mixed with milk, cream, lemon or other fruits or spices as accompaniments. Fruit juices such as red or white cranberry, grape, orange, grapefruit and passion fruit can be added in amount ranging from 10% to 25%.

The story of iced tea that the vendor selling hot tea on a blistering, humid day at the 1904 World’s Fair in St. Louis was not having much luck until he dropped a couple of ice cubes into brew.

Bottled, ready to drink iced tea are increasingly popular, but homemade ice tea is indefinitely better and quite easy to make.

Iced tea