Iced Green Tea’jito
Summer’s off to a cool start, but iced tea season is definitely in full swing!
STEEPING. The first question is, “How do you make iced tea?” Answers spread the array from the tried and true “sun tea” steepers to more modern “cold brewers” - and everything in between. Sun tea uses the natural summer rays to infuse the leaves and yields a distinctly sunbaked aroma. Whereas cold brewers allow the leaves to lightly infuse overnight in the fridge, making a delicate cup that brings out the nuances that a high quality tea has to offer. Many, present company included, choose the quick n’ dirty route due to lack of time: hot steep a higher ratio of leaves to water to create a concentrate, cool, and pour over a tall glass of ice. Making a tea concentrate allows more versatility to create fun mocktail concoctions with muddled fruit, herbs and syrups.
PICK A LANE. Next, decide on your iced tea theme. You can take the fruity route, the herbal route by muddlng in basil, mint or rosemary; there are so many fruits that enhance tea like berries, mango, guava, citrus… or choose more earthy tones by making a ginger lemongrass syrup or go caffeine-free with a spiced hibiscus mélange. There are endless options and combinations. If you want to get fancy, add a sprinkling of chia seeds or edible glitter.
FINALLY, COMPOSE YOUR DRINK. It may seem a simple task, but making the perfect iced tea, actually can be more challenging than you think. You won’t be able to taste the tea unless you make a stronger tea concentrate, since other ingredients easily overpower the tea’s delicate aroma. As you may have experienced at a restaurant with sugar packets, if you prefer sweetened tea, it always takes way more sweetener than you think! The same rule applies for citrus, you’ll find yourself squeezing in more than you’d think, to balance out the fruit, tea, and sweetener notes.
IT’S GO TIME. Your turn to try your hand at making your own iced tea. Jadetiger’s made it easier for you by now offering iced tea “pillows” to make your tea base. Just pour 1 gallon boiling spring water over 1 pillow and let steep for 30 minutes. Once cooled, the tea will keep in the fridge for 1 week. You can order HERE.
Be sure to tag @jadetigertea on Instagram, we want to see your summer tea creations! Until then, CHEERS!
Pro tip #1: top with sparkling water and you have a tea spritzer, voilà!! Pro tip #2: sweetened liquids sink to the bottom, and will actually create a natural separating line from unsweetened liquid, making your iced tea drink look layered and pretty! Think “Arnold Palmer” how the lemonade sits on the bottom with the tea on top. Pro tip #3: Always garnish, garnish, garnish! The perfect finishing touch to your iced tea can be a flower, dried orange peel, slice of lime, sprig of mint, use your imagination (or whatever’s in the fridge or pantry!).
