All About Iced Tea
Popular during the warm months, iced tea is known for its refreshing and flavorful taste.
What is Iced Tea?
Iced tea is any type of tea that is served over ice. It’s typically steeped in a similar fashion to hot teas and then cooled with cold water, ice, or a stint in the fridge. Oftentimes, iced teas include additives such as sugar, honey, or fresh fruit to enhance flavor. In warm weather months or places with hot climates, iced tea is a popular beverage choice for all ages.
Origins
The origin of iced tea is a frequently debated topic, but most accounts credit the 19th-century United States as its official introduction.
The most popular story attributes the American South to the creation of iced tea. Due to the hot climate, plantation workers in the South started to serve brewed tea over ice to cool themselves down.
Another possibility is that Richard Blechynden, a tea plantation owner, was struggling to attract visitors to his tea booth during the 1904 World’s Fair in St. Louis, Missouri. It was incredibly hot, so he decided to serve his tea over ice to draw attention.
Whatever the true origin of iced tea is, it became extremely popular in the 20th century. With improvements in refrigeration and access to ice, iced tea became more widely available to the population.
Types of Iced Tea
Black Iced Tea
The most common iced tea base, black tea, is robust, flavorful, and often served with sweeteners.
Green Iced Tea
Offering similar benefits as a hot green tea, green iced tea is refreshing, light, and enjoyed with fun fruit flavors.
Herbal Iced Tea
Herbal teas, like chamomile, peppermint, or rooibos, are popular for making distinctly flavored iced teas.
Flavored Iced Tea
Made with black, green, or herbal tea, flavored iced teas are often fruit-infused with peach, raspberry, or mango.
Sweet Tea
A southern state staple, sweet tea is made with black tea and sweetened with sugar or simple syrup.
Can I use any type of tea to make iced tea?
You can use any kind of tea to make iced tea, but each type will have different flavor profiles and characteristics. Black tea is the most common type for iced tea.
Should I sweeten my iced tea?
Whether to sweeten your iced tea is a personal preference. You can add sugar, honey, agave syrup, or other sweeteners to enhance the flavors to your tastes.
Can I add carbonation to my iced tea?
If you want carbonated iced tea, you can add soda water or sparkling water once your tea is brewed and chilled.
Can I blend iced tea?
Blending your iced tea is a great way to cool down on a hot day. You can add fruits, yogurts, or protein powder to change up the flavor.
Am I supposed to use hot water to brew iced tea?
You can either brew your iced tea with hot water or as a cold brew. Check out How to Brew the Perfect Iced Tea on our blog for step-by-step instructions.