I've been reading the diet soda thread in the OWL section, and I guess I should try to weed that out, too. (I only drink one or two a day, but hot weather is coming :hot: ) I love iced tea, but the purchased ones I've seen all come with carbs. I don't mind making my own, so I figured I'd ask what you all do. You're such a creative bunch, I figured I'd get some great ideas by asking

So, how do you make tea?

Robin

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Are you asking how iced tea is made, or are you asking how people make iced tea unique by adding different things?

Because, if you're asking how iced tea is made, just read the back of the box. It really only has two ingredients: tea bags and water.

I'm not trying to sound condescening. I'm just trying to clarify your question.

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April

The face of a child can say a lot -- especially the mouth part of the face.

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My only tip is to not overbrew the tea, which can make it bitter. If you want stronger tea, use more tea bags rather than steep it longer. That advice pertains to black and gree teas. The various herbal teas do not seem to get bitter when steeped a long time.

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~~~Teelbee
Back to GOAL!!!
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Reached goal in Aug. 2003 - 4rd year of maintenance.

I put a 2 cup glass measuring cup, filled, with 4 or 5 teabags, into the microwave and let it go about 4 minutes. Then I let that steep another 5 minutes. Then I pour that into a 2 qt. pitcher and fill with water, and keep refrigerated.

In the summertime I like sun tea, just fill a glass 2 quart container with water, add the teabags and let sit in the sun til it's the color/strength you like.

I don't like my tea fancy so all I add is LOTS of ice and a bit of liquid Splenda to it.

As for the kind of tea, good old Liptons is what I use! I also like Constant Comment but DH doesn't so I don't often make that. You can use decaf teabags too.

Char

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Veni, vidi, velcro. I came, I saw, I stuck around.

Save the Earth - it's the only planet with CHOCOLATE!

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We like sun tea as well - I don't know why, but we find it has a "mellower" taste.

Thanks, ladies. The only way I've ever made tea is with a Mr. Coffee Iced Tea maker, so I was just curious as to what others did. I've heard of sun tea, of course, but have never made it. I don't know if we get enough sun around here to try it. I don't have an iced tea maker of my own, so thanks for the tips.

Robin

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I put 20 bags in a small pot on the stove, and soon as it starts coming to a boil I turn it off and leave it set for about 5 minutes.. Then I squeeze out the bags, add 1 cup splenda to it and stir. (It disolves good in hot water, so does sugar) Then I pour it into a gallon jar and fill it almost full with cold water. I like strong tea... if you don't, use less tea bags. Also, you can get Crystal light iced tea... haven't tried it, but I've tried all their other flavors, except the grapefruit (which I can't have because of a med I have to take)... so I am sure the iced tea is equally good.

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In the cookies of life, we are the chocolate chips.

I make sun tea often, even though my area is more known for clouds than sun. If I don't have a sunny day, I put a big bunch of tea bags into a carbolite pitcher that I have and pour boiling water to about a third full. When I think about it again, I pull out the bags and fill to the top with cold water. It's pretty strong this way, but that's how I like it, since I want it to still taste like tea when I pour it over ice. I only use a twist of lemon in mine, since I don't like it sweet.

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Robin - I apologize for sounding abrupt in my previous post here. I PM'd you about it.

As for iced tea, I gave up making it at home -- sun tea, or otherwise -- because I can never get it to taste as good as the kind I get in a restaurant.

And, for the record, green tea makes me hurl.

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April

The face of a child can say a lot -- especially the mouth part of the face.

My Blog

I like the Arizona Tea Diet Green Tea. you can buy jugs or bottles - I get the powder packets from Arizona Tea or in the store and mix it up myself.
It doesn't disolve right away, but does if you let it sit.

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Mary Kay 1/1/04 - 232
5/19/08 (5/23/08) - sw226/(cw222)/mg210/fg160

Oh Robin! The best, cheapest and healthiest way for great (and many flavored) iced teas is to check out the celestial seasons section of your local supermarket..

They have all sorts of GREAT flavors - ( I wait until they have a bunch of sale and they always do!)... everything from blueberry, hazelnut vanilla, rooibos vanilla, rooibos pomagranate, raspberry, etc... Even your basic lemon or mint.

If you don't want to sun tea it - heat up a two quart pot of water with 4-5 tea bags in it (or fewer actually)... heat it to 'almost' boiling. Take it off the fire (cover it) then let it sit on another burner to cool. COuple of hours later pour it nto a big container in the fridge.

WAY healthier and cheaper than all the processed (like Arizona) iced teas...!! And you can figure out the number of bags you need with a little trial and error!

AND... I never have to add sweetener (although DH does a little) - but if you like it sweet - before it cool, mix 2-3 splenda packets in the tea water before you cover it to let it cool.

YUMMY!!! And you can try so many great flavors for summer

good luck - Rachel

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Hugs, Rachel







(the horn is in honor of DH!)
Quien canta, sus males espanta... ("She who sings fightens away her ills") Miguel de Cervantes

my mom told me that she makes iced tea in the fridge without boiling water or putting it in the sun.

Fill gallon jug with water, add 3-4 large size teabags, and leave over night, you don't get the "cooked" flavor with boiled or sun tea, and it stays pretty clear...
try it, it is pretty good.
c

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carolyn in texas
started 8/11/03 327/268/177
5/20/08/ - 348
onward thru the fog

Having made many pitchers of Iced Tea in a restaurant, it was always 4 tea bags (Constant Comment - 2 Irish breakfast, 2 English). One coffee pot of water. Combine in large pitcher. Add Ice til full.

People always raved about the "secret recipe"
I actually never drank it, but I was young and foolish. I guess only the young part's changed...

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Sven
305/218/200
Start Date: 1/1/06

Welcome to low-carb eating.
The food's not bad here.

The best brand I've ever used for iced tea is Luzianne. Much better than Lipton.

Sun tea has one disadvantage. It seems that tea leaves can't be sterilized, and could have bird droppings on them when they are harvested. So as not to get the bacteria in your system, it's better to use boiling water to steep the tea, in order to kill off any bacteria. (I still love sun tea! Maybe it's that little extra something that gives it some zing!)

I use 2 family size tea bags, pour hot water over them, let them steep a few minutes, add cold water and remove the bags. That's it. Makes 2 quarts of great iced tea.

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Nita