Iced tea is a summertime staple in my house, and in the past I've always relied on "sun tea" as my preferred method. Sun Tea is made by filling a jug with cold water and tea bags and using the sun's heat to steep it on a porch or other sunny outdoor space. But recently I've been relying more on cold-brewed teas that I can just throw in the refrigerator with the herbs I have on hand.
If you're not familiar with cold-brewing teas, it's a process that uses cold water and time to slowly draw out the flavors of the tea. As Harold McGee said in a recent New York Times Article, it's a slower, gentler process but many people like the more subtle, true flavors that come about when heat isn't used. While the below recipes aren't all necessarily written with cold-brew instructions, you can make them that way. Depending on how strong you like your tea, experiment with the timing. Generally, 8-12 hours will be the perfect steep time for a cold-brewed cup of tea. And use whatever herbs you have on hand; the recipes below have specific suggestions, but I'm finding it's hard to go too terribly wrong.
Try a Recipe:
• Mojito Iced Tea - New York Times
• Tarragon-Spiked Lady Gray Iced Tea - Epicurious
• Iced Tea With Plums and Thyme - Real Simple
• Ruby Red Rosemary Iced Tea - Better Homes and Gardens
Related:
• Refreshing Drink for Summer: Cold-Brewed Iced Tea
• Best Coffee for Hot Days: Cold-Brewed Iced Coffee
• Is it Safe to Brew and Drink Sun Tea?
(Image: Flickr member House of Sims licensed under Creative Commons)
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I LOVE cold-brewed tea. I totally started doing this last year after reading the article on theKitchn. My favorite is Earl Grey - it is not bitter at all and very fragrant with bergamot.
I have found that herbal teas do not get as strong, even when left in the fridge overnight.
As a kid, my best friend's mom would make sun tea and we'd add a ton of sugar which never dissolved but ended up sitting like a half inch of sweet sludge at the bottom of the cup. We just sucked up the sugar with a straw and figured that's how sun tea was supposed to be.
I'm not really a tea drinker now but maybe I'll give the cold tea a try just for nostalgia.
I've never done this before, but am now totally intrigued. Wanna start to grow my own herbal tea garden. Thanks for the ideas.
Works really well, I just stick water and teabags in the fridge in a pitcher overnight. I agree with vintagejenta that herbal brews don't get as strong, but it still works fine. I often leave mint teabags in for 24 hours and it comes out great.
hey the ruby red tea link goes to the tarragon tea!!
I have come to love the combination of mint leaves and ginger slices.
I have intercystial cystitus... a lovely bladder disease that requires low acid foods. (Fortunately, I have a very mild version of this.) Cold brew coffee is the only version of coffee that I can have ... and I'm excited to learn how to make the cold brew, tea, too!
I was so intrigued, and the weather was so hot, that I had to try it. I used black tea, peppermint and chamomile tea bags, a big handful of bruised mint, sliced lime and not too much sugar cane syrup. It is so very delicious and refreshing.
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