Make homemade iced tea

How to save money by making ice tea rather than buying bottled tea.

By Heather McPherson

The Orlando Sentinel

Latest from our Living blogs

Coffee City

Starbucks seeks managers of social media, digital strategy NEW - 11/20, 01:34 PM

Nancy Leson | All You Can Eat

Wok not ready to roll? Try this trick for cleaning it NEW - 11/20, 09:00 AM

In the summer, a glass of freshly brewed iced tea can quench and cool anyone in no time.

Making tea from scratch costs just pennies.

Here are tips for making two quarts of tea from "Iced Tea" by Fred Thompson (Harvard Common Press):

Step 1: In a glass measuring cup or ceramic teapot large enough to accommodate 2 cups boiling water, place 6 regular-size tea bags and 1/8 teaspoon baking soda. (The baking soda will soften the natural tannins that cause an acid or bitter taste.) Pour 2 cups boiling water over the tea bags. Cover and let steep 15 minutes.

Step 2: Remove the tea bags, being careful not to squeeze them (squeezing the bags will add bitterness).

Step 3: Pour concentrate into a two-quart pitcher and add 6 cups cold water. Sweeten, if desired.

Step 4: Let cool, then chill and serve over ice.

More Food & wine headlines...

E-mail article Print view Share

Comments (7)

Make sun tea! In a clear, glass gallon jug, put 4 teabags in, fill with lukewarm water and place in the sun to steep all day, especially on a hot... Posted on July 1, 2009 at 9:10 AM by Ojai. Jump to comment

Thanks for this article. I tried to figure out how to make Iced Tea myself, but I didn't know what to add to the tea. Water! Of course! Posted on July 2, 2009 at 7:46 AM by no_god_only_religion. Jump to comment

I found this helpful. I didn't know about the baking soda. Posted on July 2, 2009 at 12:37 PM by Sassinak. Jump to comment

Read all comments / Share your thoughts