Just in case Google has misled you, this is not a blog about the third most famous rapper from NWA. This is all about the beverage, not Ice-T.
Ice-T drinking iced tea
Ardent followers of Chanui’s world beating tea content may remember multiple iced tea experiments across our social channels.
This week, we’re expanding on that with a short trip into the history of iced tea before looking at three different ways you can make your own concoctions at home. If you don’t have the time to read on, please know this: Almost all variations of tea smashed together and chilled down will result in a delicious, refreshing and, alertness inducing beverage.
Dig out your widest brimmed sun hat and let’s get brewing.
A brief history of iced tea
The origins of iced tea date back to the 19th century, though its exact beginnings are somewhat debated.
Obviously tea had long been left out to cool to room temperature and then consumed anyway. Anyone with small children will know this travesty, particularly when you were looking forward to enjoying your tea with milk and it gets that weird congealed inner island of protein floating on the top.
Yummy.
Anyway, it should come as no surprise to learn that the first documented recipes for iced tea came from America as early as the 1870s.
According to Wikipedia, it was the 1904 World’s Fair in St. Louis that truly popularised the drink. For context, that summer was a real scorcher. Not prime conditions for selling scalding hot drinks.
Poster for the Exposition painted by Alphonse Mucha
A British tea merchant named Richard Blechynden was struggling to attract fairgoers to his booth.
In a stroke of genius, he decided to pour the tea over ice, creating a cool, refreshing drink that quickly became a hit.
For context, the World’s Fair was kind of a big deal back then for showcasing people with new technologies. In 1904, it was all about flying machines, automobiles, enormous turbines, and wireless telegraphy.
Obviously the innovation of iced tea was a fitting addition to such world changing tech.
Seconds into the first airplane flight
From there, iced tea spread rapidly across the United States, becoming a staple in the southern states, where the drink was often sweetened to create "sweet tea."
Three ways to make iced tea
1. Summer Berry iced tea
This iced tea is perfect for those who love a fruity twist. Using summer berries teabags infuses the tea with a vibrant berry flavour that’s both sweet and tangy. Not dissimilar to squash but by adding a bag of black tea, you balance out the sweetness and add that oft-needed caffeine boost.
Ingredients:
4 Summer Berry teabags
4 of your favourite Chanui Black Teabags.
1 litre of boiling water
Ice cubes
Fresh berries (optional)
Honey or sugar to taste
Instructions:
Steep the Summer Berries teabags in boiling water for 5-7 minutes, depending on how strong you like your tea.
Remove the teabags and let the tea cool to room temperature.
Sweeten the tea with honey or sugar if desired.
Pour the tea into a pitcher filled with ice cubes and stir well.
For an extra fruity kick, add fresh berries like raspberries, strawberries, or blueberries to the pitcher.
Serve in glasses over more ice and enjoy!
2. Chamomile iced tea
Chamomile tea is known for its calming properties, making this iced tea a perfect evening drink to help you unwind after a long, hot day. Feel free to add some black tea to proceedings if you’re craving caffeine.
Ingredients:
1 litre of boiling water
Ice cubes
Lemon slices (optional)
Honey to taste
Instructions:
Steep the chamomile teabags in boiling water for 5-7 minutes.
Remove the teabags and allow the tea to cool to room temperature.
Sweeten the tea with honey to your liking.
Fill a pitcher with ice cubes and pour the cooled tea over the ice.
Add lemon slices for a hint of citrusy flavour if desired.
Serve in chilled glasses with more ice.
3. Peppermint black iced tea
Combining the classic-ness of black tea with the refreshing taste of peppermint creates a darn fine sip for a hot day.
Ingredients:
3 Chanui Black Teabags
1 litre of boiling water
Ice cubes
Fresh mint leaves (optional)
Lemon wedges (optional)
Sugar or honey to taste
Instructions:
Steep the black tea and peppermint teabags together in boiling water for 5-7 minutes.
Remove the teabags and let the tea cool to room temperature.
Sweeten with sugar or honey as desired.
Fill a pitcher with ice cubes and pour the tea over the ice.
Garnish with fresh mint leaves and lemon wedges for an extra burst of flavour.
Serve over ice and enjoy the invigorating taste.
Extra tips:
If you’re looking to make any of these more quickly, make your steeped tea double strength and add more ice to dilute it and chill it down without having to wait for it to cool.
For the better prepared iced tea hosts out there, consider making a batch using cold water instead and pop a flask of it in the fridge overnight for a hydrating drink you can chug happily in the morning. It also holds the advantage of not requiring any ice.
Cold brewing is purported to result in a milder, more complex flavour but honestly, we’ve never been able to taste much of a difference!
Final thoughts
We’ve tried pretty much every combination of our teas in their iced format over the years and have only ever come up with one that doesn’t work.
Blood Orange and Peppermint tea.
The flavour is reminiscent of when you drink orange juice after brushing your teeth.
All kinds of wrong.