There are varieties of cold tea; one form of the tea categorized as cold tea is the iced tea. Iced tea is a popular drink served in many restaurants, cafes, and other local eateries. Hot tea can be served cold by allowing it to cool down. But there are some special recipes for making iced tea. For instance, adding lemon juice or lemonade to hot black or green teas makes a refreshing chilled drink with an added touch of citrus flavor and vitamin C from the lemon juice or concentrate. One can add other ingredients such as mint leaves, orange slices, and honey to enhance the flavor of sweetened iced teas such as those made with peach or raspberry flavors.
Origin of Iced Tea
Iced tea has been around for quite some time now. Still, it has been gaining popularity recently among consumers who prefer this type of beverage over any other hot or cold drink out there on the market today. Iced tea was first developed in 1767 when Thomas Sullivan began selling his family recipe door-to-door. It wasn’t until 1904, when John Stith Pemberton invented Coca-Cola, that people started drinking bottled drinks regularly. In 1904, Thomas Sullivan’s great-grandson, Robert, took over the family business and began producing bottled iced tea. He was the first one to package iced tea in an unbreakable bottle. His company was called S & W Bottling Company. In 1916, Robert Sullivan sold his business to Ernest Woodruff, and it was renamed The Coca-Cola Bottling Company.
The most popular brand of bottled Iced Tea today is Snapple which started as a single beverage store back in 1972 by Arnold Greenberg and Hyman Golden. They sold their first product from their store on June 10th, 1972, a fruit smoothie made with fresh fruits and juices. In 1977 they introduced the first line of Iced Teas under the name Snapple. By 1980 they had expanded their business into a chain of stores called The Drinkery which sold only Snapple drinks and were soon franchised throughout New York City and Long Island for $1,000 each. In 1987 Snapple Beverage Corporation opened its doors to the public on Wall Street when it received an initial public offering worth 35 million dollars! From there, Snapple Beverage Corp grew into what it is today; an international sensation with its products being sold in over 20 countries worldwide!
Taste of Iced Tea
The sweetening of iced tea may take place not depending on the person preparing the meals and the consumer’s desire. It could be done to make the drink more palatable or conform to a certain standard. Many variables are involved in the sweetening of iced tea. The type of sweetener used, the amount of sweetener used, and the type of glassware used to serve the iced tea all play a part in the taste and enjoyment of this beverage.
The type of sweetener used will depend on many factors. One factor is whether or not a person has diabetes. A person with diabetes will not use regular sugar because it will raise their blood glucose levels quickly and violently. Instead, they may choose to use artificial sweeteners because they do not affect their blood glucose levels.
Another factor that goes into choosing a sweetener is a taste preference. Some people prefer one type of sweetener over another for whatever reason; for example, some people like Equal® better than Splenda® because it tastes better. Some people prefer organic cane sugar over refined sugar because they believe it is healthier. On the other hand, others believe that refined sugar tastes better than organic cane sugar. The belief is guided by associating organic with bitter-tasting, which can affect how they perceive sweetness when drinking iced tea made with organic cane sugar compared with refined sugar.
The amount of sweetener used can be determined by how much sweetness consumers want in their iced tea. Consumers may use large amounts of artificial or organic cane sugar if they want their iced tea to taste very sweet. They may also add a small amount of artificial or organic cane sugar if they want their iced tea to taste moderately sweet. Consumers may also use little or no artificial or organic cane sugar if they want their iced tea to taste less sweet.
Other flavors used in sweetening iced tea apart from sugar include raspberry, cherry, lemon, orange, lime, grapefruit, strawberry, and other fruit flavors. When using artificial sweeteners or organic cane sugar to sweeten iced tea, consumers may also add the flavors mentioned above to enhance the flavor of their tea.
Powerful Iced Tea Ingredients
There are a variety of ingredients meant for tea, depending on the flavor expected by the consumer. Iced tea contains tea extracts, acidity regulators, juices, water, sweeteners, and antioxidants; as some of the most common ingredients for iced tea are:
Tea Extract: Consumers prefer the flavor of tea extracts over real tea leaves in their iced tea because the extract is more convenient to use. Tea extracts are prepared by extracting the flavor from real leaves, and after filtration, it is preserved in a liquid form.
Sugar: It is an important ingredient for iced tea to make it more appealing to consumers. In addition, sugar also helps retain its color and taste after cooling down.
Sugar substitutes: These ingredients are used as alternatives to sugar, such as stevia or sucralose since they have fewer calories than sugar but have the same taste and sweetness.
Liquid sweeteners: These sweeteners are used in iced teas as thickeners to give it a thicker consistency, just like honey, making it look thick and creamy when poured into a glass. The most common liquid sweetener is corn syrup which helps give a glossy appearance on top of the beverage when poured out of the glass.
Liquid flavorings: These can be extracted from natural or artificial flavors that help enhance the basic taste of iced teas, such as those with lemon or peach flavors. Some people add fruit juices to create even more interesting tastes for consumers like orange, pineapple, apple juice, etc.
Brewing Technique for Iced Tea
Preparing iced tea is done in various with varying personnel. There is abundant information online on tea preparation; hence, one may easily be overwhelmed. Although the preparation of iced tea is a simple process, one must take note of the following:
1. Always start by preparing hot tea. One can prepare hot tea using a teapot or an electric kettle to make hot water and then use the hot water to make tea.
2. Prepare your ice cubes and leave them in the freezer for at least 2 hours before use to ensure they are cold enough.
3. Use a glass pitcher that has been cleaned thoroughly and filled with ice cubes.
4. Pour hot water from your electric kettle or teapot into your glass pitcher to fill it halfway with water; this will be used as a base for your iced tea. For best results, you may add sugar or sweetener at this point to enhance your flavor preference if desired.
5. Add the desired amount of loose-leaf tea into the glass pitcher (remember not to overpack).
6. Fill up the rest of the glass pitcher with cold tap water, stir well until all items have been mixed well, and serve!
Popular Iced Tea Flavors
There are a variety of iced tea flavors that offer refreshing experiences when paired with porched swings and summer breezes. Here are some of the well-known iced tea flavors.
Pineapple Iced Tea; this flavor is made by combining pineapple juice with black tea. The flavor of pineapple is very refreshing and sweet. It is a great drink when you are in the mood for something fruity.
Passion Fruit Iced Tea; this flavor has a tropical taste and is very delicious. You can also add other fruit juices to make it more refreshing.
Pineapple-Coconut Iced Tea; this iced tea combines coconut, pineapple, and apple juice which blends well together to form an appealing iced tea that is both sweet and refreshing.
Chai Iced Tea; this iced tea has a spicy taste, but it goes well with porched swings and summer breezes. You can make it by mixing some sugar with chai powder, water, and lemon juice or honey. You can also add some ginger to make it more flavorful.
Cherry Limeade Sweet Tea; this tea is made by mixing cherry juice, lime juice, and sweet tea. It is a very refreshing drink that you can enjoy during the summer.
Peach Iced Tea; this iced tea has a sweet taste but is also very refreshing. You can add some lemon juice to make it more flavorful.
Cranberry Iced Tea; this iced tea has a tart flavor that goes well with porched swings and summer breezes. You can also add some lemon juice to make it more flavorful.
Benefits of Iced Tea
The iced has been widely known for proving a refreshing boost. However, the tea turns out to be extremely beneficial. Here are some of the positive outcomes of making iced tea.
Enhances Antioxidants within You; The antioxidants lower the chances of developing cancer, heart diseases, and diabetes. Your body can absorb the antioxidants from the iced tea by simply drinking it.
Tea is Known to Increase Energy; Taking tea increases your energy level and keeps you alert for a longer period without feeling tired. It also helps in boosting your metabolism level.
The Tea is Helpful for Skin Health;
The antioxidants present in the iced tea can help your skin cells by fighting off the free radicals responsible for causing wrinkles and slowing down your skin’s aging process.
The Tea Prevents Hair Damage; You might have heard that drinking green tea can help prevent hair damage, but did you know that the same benefits apply to black tea as well? The polyphenols found in black tea can help protect hair follicles from oxidative stress, preventing hair loss and damage caused by free radicals.
