Sunday, July 29, 2018

Desperate times call for desperate measures ... like iced tea


And the times lately have certainly been desperate as far as heat and humidity are concerned.

As a rule at our house, we no longer drink sweetened beverages.  Mr. T does use a little stevia in his coffee.  But for cold beverages, our first choice is always nice cold water.  Sometimes we will have kombucha.  I enjoy unsweetened iced tea with lemon, but my hubby does not, so I don't usually bother making it just for me.  Usually, water is the most refreshing and most usual cold drink for us.

However.  There are times when a lightly sweetened iced tea is just the ticket.  We've had an unusually long spell of heat and humidity and I have found myself making a jug of iced tea twice during it.

I do use my daughter's recipe,  which is a good bit healthier than my mother usually made iced tea.  (She used a can of lemonade concentrate, replete with high fructose corn syrup I am sure.  Though, in her defense, I do remember many, many years ago when she used lemons and sugar instead.)

I have copied and pasted Carrie's recipe just as I wrote it in a 2007 blog post.  When I've made this during those desperate times this summer, I've made half a batch.  And I've used brown sugar, which feels just a tiny bit healthier and adds a bit more depth to the flavor.

CARRIE’S ICED TEA

12 cups boiling water
12 green tea bags
1 cup sugar
4 Tblsp. orange juice
4 Tblsp. lemon juice

Pour the boiling water over the tea bags in a large bowl. Let steep 5 to 7 minutes only. Stir in sugar and juices. Stir well; let cool. Transfer to a pitcher and let chill in refrigerator. Serve over ice.

This recipe may easily be halved and is very adaptable. I often add in some lime juice along with the other citrus juices, and usually when I halve the recipe I still use the full amount of fruit juice. Sometimes I use regular tea in place of the green tea -- just as tasty! Sometimes I use 11 regular tea bags and 1 flavored one such as mint, raspberry, or peach. Gives a nice, different flavor.

If heat and humidity have you desperate, too,  you might like to give Carrie's recipe a try!

8 comments:

  1. I like to use green tea too, and like you ,drink my tea without sugar or sweeter, but Dh enjoys his sweet tea, this sounds like one I could use to cut back on the sugar. Thanks for sharing.
    Sue

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    1. Hope you give it a try, Sue! The orange juice means you can use less sugar and maybe get away with it, depending on just how sweet your hubby likes his tea!

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  2. Now that must make a nice batch! I usually purchase Paul Newman brand iced tea because it does not have high fructose corn syrup. One must be a careful reader of ingredients these days to be sure. “Adam”s Ale” is usually the best for rehydrating. Alas, I can not drink my water cold anymore. Anyway, stay cool and hydrated over there!

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    1. That's right about the Newman's Own iced tea. I've bought that occasionally in the past and it is very good.

      So true about "Adam's Ale" -- what an old-timey description that is for water. I'd forgotten about that term until you mentioned it. Water is surely the best for hydration, you're right.

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  3. I just use 4 decaf Luzianne tea bags and hot tap water. Takes about an hour for a gallon of yummy unsweetened tea. I often use 1 cup of stevia when I want it sweetened. I don't care for lemon in my tea.

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    1. That is a good idea, Terri. Sun tea is good, also. Thanks for sharing what you do to make unsweetened iced tea.

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  4. I bought an iced tea maker several years ago and like that much better than on the stove. I use a combination of black or green tea and herbal, usually peppermint or lemon. The Kool-Aid pitcher made me smile!

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    1. Oh, an iced tea maker sounds like a good idea, Maureen!

      We had a plastic Kool-Aid pitcher when I was growing up ... always loved that smile!

      Thanks for visiting. Stop in again anytime!

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