sweet tea

[CrimsonChuck]

Up here, sweet tea is hard to find. There is one restaurant, Famous Daves that has it on the menu. It is actually pretty good there. You can also get it at the Farm Fresh Milk stores, and that is good too (although not the same as a restaurant).

I was thinking that it might be good to try brewing some myself. I've never done that before, so I was wondering how you all do it. What type of tea bags do you use, and how much sugar do you mix in?

 

[FitToBeTide]

Amongst many methods out there, this is the time-tested failsafe for me:

2 quartsize Lipton tea bags

Bring boiler of water to a boil, maybe 1/2 a quart. Put in the 2 big teabag and let steep for about 10 minutes or so.

Pour into tea pitcher, fill with cold water and add sweetner to taste.

Simple, tastes good, been using this for decades. Some folks insist on Louisana (sp) brand tea, but whatever.

 

[Tidefan7887]

I've used brown sugar and regular sugar mixed in before.. its not bad. i think that is how Milo's sweet tea is made... Does anybody know?

 

[BAMAFAN IN NY]

One gallon pitcher with a cup of sugar in it

two quart size Luzianne or Lipton tea bags (or five regular sized tea bags)
put it in a medium sized pot with water and bring to a boil. When it comes to a boil turn it off and let it sit for a few minutes.

Pour the tea in to the pitcher and stir up the sugar.
Refill the pot with the tea bags in it and pour it into the pitcher. Keep doing this until the pitcher is full

put it in the fridge

fill a mason jar with ice and pour the tea over it
enjoy

 

[SavannahDare]

I only make sun tea when I make sweet tea. Of course, that limits me to the months of March through October for the most part, but it's how I like it so I don't mind.

I prefer Luzianne teabags, either six-eight small bags or 2-3 large bags (depending on how strong you like it). You must have a large gallon-sized jar with a lid that screws on. You can usually find one at Target or Wal-Mart (many of them even have a spout on them...that's the kind I have).

Fill your jar with water and hang your teabags over the rim. Screw on the lid. Place the jar in direct sun for a couple of hours. When the jar is very warm to the touch, unscrew the lid, add 1-2 cups of sugar (depending on your preference), stir it up, replace the teabags, replace the lid, and let sit in the sun for another hour or so. Remove teabags, stir again. If it's been hot enough, you should have no sugar settled at the bottom.

Serve over ice and enjoy!!

 

[bayoutider]

I have a neighbor whose brother manages a tea plantation or whatever you call it in India. He keeps me hooked up with a lot of loose tea his brother sends him. He has said all his tea is sold to Tetley Tea Co. Its a good tea that we pack into a couple of large tea balls then pour half a gallon of boiling water over it. Let it steep for about 20 minutes then remove the tea balls and stir in 1/2 cup of sugar while still warm. We drink ice tea through the day but most mornings we drink hot tea for breakfast. We drink coffee maybe twice a week for breakfast.

If you can find it in your store Community makes a good tea. I like it better than Lipton.

 

[BAMAFAN IN NY]

Ive heard of people putting baking soda in their tea. Anybody know anything about that?

I think the only way to mess up tea is by putting too much sugar in it. 1/2 cup of sugar OR LESS per half gallon, no more.

I guess you could make it too weak or too strong, but its still drinkable--- but not if its got too much sugar in it. Sometimes i like to make unsweetened tea and just drink that... its not TOO bad.

 

[bayoutider]

Ive heard of people putting baking soda in their tea. Anybody know anything about that?

I think the only way to mess up tea is by putting too much sugar in it. 1/2 cup of sugar OR LESS per half gallon, no more.

I guess you could make it too weak or too strong, but its still drinkable--- but not if its got too much sugar in it. Sometimes i like to make unsweetened tea and just drink that... its not TOO bad.

I have heard a pinch of baking soda takes out the bitterness in the tea. I never have found my tea bitter.

We like what I call a light half cup (not quite full) of sugar. Sometimes I add some lemongrass and sometimes orange peelings and I like my tea a little on the strong side just like my coffee. I want tea not tea flavored water.

 

[bamanut_aj]

I just boil a half gallon of water and pour it over 1 cup of sugar. Stir it. Add 4 tea bags. Let it steep however long you want. Fill the rest up with ice. Easy.

 

[ROTYDE]

Recipe for sweet tea....LOL

1 part vodka
1 part tequila
1 part rum
1 part gin
1 part triple sec
1 1/2 parts sweet and sour mix
1 splash Coca-Cola®

Mix ingredients together over ice in a glass. Pour into a shaker and give one brisk shake. Pour back into the glass and make sure there is a touch of fizz at the top. Garnish with lemon.

 

[BAMAFAN IN NY]

Recipe for sweet tea....LOL

1 part vodka
1 part tequila
1 part rum
1 part gin
1 part triple sec
1 1/2 parts sweet and sour mix
1 splash Coca-Cola®

Mix ingredients together over ice in a glass. Pour into a shaker and give one brisk shake. Pour back into the glass and make sure there is a touch of fizz at the top. Garnish with lemon.

I think that is the way they make it in Long Island

 

[BamaMoon]

Add 5 quart size Red Diamond tea bags to cold water and then bring to a boil. Steep for about 10 minutes. Pour hot tea over 1.5 cups of sugar in a gallon pitcher. Stir and then fill up picture with cold water. Stir again. For added flavor, be sure and squeeze tea bags to get the remaining tea out. For best results, let tea chill in fridge for a few hours before enjoying.

The next best thing is a glass of tea from McAlister's Deli.

 

[bayoutider]

Add 5 quart size Red Diamond tea bags to cold water and then bring to a boil. Steep for about 10 minutes. Pour hot tea over 1.5 cups of sugar in a gallon pitcher. Stir and then fill up picture with cold water. Stir again. For added flavor, be sure and squeeze tea bags to get the remaining tea out. For best results, let tea chill in fridge for a few hours before enjoying.

The next best thing is a glass of tea from McAlister's Deli.

I have had many people tell me not to squeeze the tea bags. Squeezing releases more of the tannins which may be why some people's tea is bitter. Some might like that bitter taste for all I know but spending a good bit of time around Europeans has changed my ideas of how tea should taste. Most Europeans use a tea ball and loose tea, you can't squeeze a metal tea ball. Some people brew herbal teas, these aren't really tea since they contain mostly herbs thus no tannins so I guess you can squeeze these. Tea brewed in things like the Mr. Coffee Tea maker you use loose tea and don't squeeze the filter, same if you use a French press to make tea, there is no bag to squeeze. Last but not least, I recall Alton Brown saying "Do not squeeze the bag". If Alton says it then it must be so.

 

[Tider@GW_Law]

If you're in need of a quick sweet tea fix, many McDonalds are serving it now. Most here in DC have it on the menu. It tastes like it's 95% sugar, but it may do the trick if you're fiendin'.

 

[BamaMoon]

I have had many people tell me not to squeeze the tea bags. Squeezing releases more of the tannins which may be why some people's tea is bitter. Some might like that bitter taste for all I know but spending a good bit of time around Europeans has changed my ideas of how tea should taste. Most Europeans use a tea ball and loose tea, you can't squeeze a metal tea ball. Some people brew herbal teas, these aren't really tea since they contain mostly herbs thus no tannins so I guess you can squeeze these. Tea brewed in things like the Mr. Coffee Tea maker you use loose tea and don't squeeze the filter, same if you use a French press to make tea, there is no bag to squeeze. Last but not least, I recall Alton Brown saying "Do not squeeze the bag". If Alton says it then it must be so.

I like my coffee and tea "strong" (and my tea sweet thus the 1.5 cups of sugar). I'll have to try not squeezing the bags and see if I like the taste better though.

 

[bayoutider]

I like my coffee and tea "strong" (and my tea sweet thus the 1.5 cups of sugar). I'll have to try not squeezing the bags and see if I like the taste better though.

I like my coffee and tea strong too. One thing I can't stand is a cup of coffee you can see the bottom of the cup through. Tea should be a bit more transparent but I still like a good strong cup. I use a darker roast coffee and add a little more tea which works for me.

 

[Bama Reb]

Add 5 quart size Red Diamond tea bags to cold water and then bring to a boil. Steep for about 10 minutes. Pour hot tea over 1.5 cups of sugar in a gallon pitcher. Stir and then fill up picture with cold water. Stir again. For added flavor, be sure and squeeze tea bags to get the remaining tea out. For best results, let tea chill in fridge for a few hours before enjoying.

The next best thing is a glass of tea from McAlister's Deli.

I have used Luzianne tea for years. A few months ago I tried Red Diamond tea just for the comparison. IMO Luzianne is the better tasting of the two.
To eliminate any chance of bitterness, I sprinkle about 1/2 tsp of baking soda over the tea bags prior to brewing. I use an old but clean coffee maker for my tea and let it steep for about 30 mins. Then I mix it like you describe above and chill.

 

[bayoutider]

I have used Luzianne tea for years. A few months ago I tried Red Diamond tea just for the comparison. IMO Luzianne is the better tasting of the two.
To eliminate any chance of bitterness, I sprinkle about 1/2 tsp of baking soda over the tea bags prior to brewing. I use an old but clean coffee maker for my tea and let it steep for about 30 mins. Then I mix it like you describe above and chill.

There you go NY that's another reference to using baking soda to cure bitterness.

 

[TDBama78]

two tea bags in a tea pot, bring to a boil let it set till luke warm. pour into lg pitcher and dilute with good filtered water. get a glass out of the cabinet. fill 3/4 full of ice. pour in the tea. add 1 1/2 to 2 teaspoons of sugar. next squeeze in 1/4 of a nice juicy lime ,throw whats left in the glass and stir. drink and repeat. once you trylime in your tea youll never go back to using lemons. i can drink unsweetened tea all day long,and i'll drink sweet tea with lime at meal time. and some are correct,you cant get good tea north of the mason-dixon. its like grits.

 

[BAMAFAN IN NY]

and some are correct,you cant get good tea north of the mason-dixon. its like grits.

Then youve never been to my house