The Origin of Iced Tea in the United States – Iced Tea Recipes
Tea is undoubtedly amongst the most loved and most widely consumed beverages across the globe. People worldwide prefer starting their day with a freshly brewed cup of tea as it provides a refreshing and energetic start to their day.
Tea is available in different variants such as black tea, green tea, herbal teas, oolong tea, and much more. One of the most loved variants of tea is iced tea. Have you ever tried this delicious version of tea? Do you like drinking iced tea? If not, this article might convince you to add this delightful version of tea to your daily routine.
Iced tea is an incredibly healthy, nutritious and healthy version of tea. Iced tea is one of the most refreshing summertime treats and is loved by people worldwide, particularly in the United States. A freshly brewed cup of iced tea offers a delicious flavor and nourishment.
Before going into the brewing process details, we would first like to discuss iced tea's history and how it originated in the United States.
How Iced Tea Originated in The United States?
Tea had been grown in the United States since the 1600s by the colonists in South Carolina. It continued spreading across the South. The first iced tea recipe was published in The Buckeye Cookbook in 1876 and Housekeeping in Old Virginia in 1877.
In the next couple of decades, the popularity of the drink started gaining popularity. During this time, most of the tea recipes called for the tea to be brewed hot, and the trend shifted to the chilled versions later on. During the early times, people preferred adding lemon, sugar, and ice to black tea.
Sweet tea might be attributed to southern traditions; however, earlier versions of this tea originate from as far north as Boston. At that time, the drink gained a significant reputation, and a substantial increase in demands was observed. However, at the World Fair in 1904 in St. Louis, the Commissioner of Tea for India (Blechynden) and one of the fair's directors, was exhibiting hot black tea.
At that time, the temperatures were unbearably high, and the fair visitors were extremely thirsty. Hot tea wasn't an option for the visitors, and it wasn't going to sell, which forced Blechynden to improvise, who then brewed and chilled the tea. To his surprise, the tea became an instant hit, and the visitors started consuming it. That's how iced tea gained popularity in the United States.
Gradually, the tea became famous worldwide, and the restaurants started serving this version to their customers. Now, iced tea has become a significant part of the American beverage roaster, and people all across the country love consuming this delicious version of tea. Iced tea, in all its varieties, has become an essential American staple. It is readily available everywhere, from the supermarket to the local coffee shops. It is regarded as a standard alternative at lemonade stands.
Several studies claim that iced tea accounts for about 85% of tea consumption in the United States.
Iced Tea Recipes
Having understood the origins of iced tea in the United States, you might be considering adding this delicious beverage to your daily routine. If you are searching for the recipe to brew a delicious cup of iced tea for yourself, search no more. Here we have discussed two easy recipes that you can adopt to prepare a cup of mouth-watering iced tea from the comfort of your home.
Preparing Iced Tea Using Cold Brew Process
Here is a super simple recipe for preparing a refreshing cold brew iced tea without the tannic, bitter flavors present in regular teas.
Ingredients
· Tuk Tea's Organic China Black Loose-leaf tea (1 tsp)
Optional Ingredients
· Sliced lemon
· Fresh mint leaves
· Sliced cucumber
· Sweetener of your choice
Instructions
1. Here are the complete instructions to prepare delicious iced tea using the cold brewing process.
2. If you are using tea bags, snip the corners off and dump the loose tea into your pitcher. You can also put the whole tea bag in the pitcher.
3. Pour water (6-8 ounces) in it either at room temperature or cold water.
4. Cover this pitcher and place it in the refrigerator. Meanwhile, steep white or green tea for about 6-8 hours and steep black tea for about 8-12 hours.
5. Once the time is up, strain the loose-leaf tea out of the pitcher. You can do this by pouring the tea through a fine-mesh sieve.
6. Finally, serve it as it is or add additional ingredients of your choice such as honey, lemon, cucumber, etc.
Lemon Basil Iced Tea Recipe
Follow the instruction given below to prepare lemon basil iced tea from the comfort of your kitchen.
Ingredients
You will need the following ingredients to prepare lemon basil iced tea.
· Lemon (½, thinly sliced)
· Fresh Basil leaves (6)
· Tuk Tea’s Organic China Green Tea (3-4 tsps)
· Cold water (3 cups)
· Raw honey (As per your taste)
Instructions
Follow the instructions below to prepare delicious lemon basil iced tea for your loved ones.
1. Take a mason jar or a pitcher.
2. Add lemon slices, fresh basil leaves, and green tea into it
3. Pour water in it either at room temperature or cold water.
4. Cover the pitcher and place it in the refrigerator for 6 - 8 hours.
5. Once the time is up, strain the loose-leaf tea out of the pitcher. You can do this by pouring the tea through a fine-mesh sieve.
6. Finally, serve it as it is or add additional ingredients of your choice such as honey, lemon, fresh basil leaves, etc.
Final Words
We hope this article helped you discover some meaningful information regarding iced tea and enhanced your knowledge of iced tea origins in the United States. We recommend adopting the above recipes to prepare a cup of delicious iced tea to treat your loved ones. You will certainly enjoy the taste and this recipe in your daily routine.
Thirsty for a delicious glass of iced tea? Visit our online shop at www.tukteacompany.com and try one of our specially crafted loose leaf teas.
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