Leveringstid 4-5 dage What is Iced Tea?
Iced tea, also known as iced tea, first became popular at the 1904 St. Louis World’s Fair. Ice tea is a refreshing, chilled beverage that is traditionally brewed from tea leaves, water, sugar, and lemon juice. Originally invented by chance to offer a cool and refreshing variant to the hot tea, iced tea has evolved to include a variety of flavors such as peach, lemon, and passion fruit. This versatile drink is ideal for hot days but can be enjoyed year-round as a fresh and low-calorie alternative to other soft drinks.
For the production of iced tea, you can use all types of tea. Black tea is good because of its powerful flavor and ability to combine the powerful and full-bodied flavor with sweetness and lemon. In addition, green and white tea are also used for a lighter and more delicate taste, as well as various herbal and fruit teas that can add natural aromas without the use of artificial additives. The tea chosen has a significant impact on the final flavor profile and can range from sweet and fruity to more subtle and refreshing notes.
Although iced tea is often made from fruit teas, you can also make iced tea with pure teas that have no added flavoring. Iced tea that is made from pure teas (white, green, Oolong or black tea without aroma, herbs or pieces of fruit) will often offer very fine flavors. This is a great alternative to the sweeter iced teas.
Exquisite flavours with delicious Ice Tea blends from Perchs
Perchs offers a great selection of teas and blends that are perfect for ice tea. Explore fruity, aromatic teas from our range, such as Green Sencha tea, or experiment with different fruit flavors such as raspberry, strawberry, and lemon. These quality blends provide a refreshing taste, whether you prefer sweet or fresh nuances.
Here are five suitable tea blends from Perchs
White Temple Tea: A white tea with fruity and aromatic notes of pineapple, citrus and flowers. Its light flavor profile makes it suitable for a cool and refreshing beverage.
Caribbean Star: A black tea with exotic flavor notes from pineapple, coconut and papaya. This blend provides a tropical experience that pairs perfectly with ice-cold drinks.
Green Cherry Blossom: A green tea with a taste of cherries and flowers, which gives a soft and sweet taste. It is an excellent blend for a cooling ice tea.
Raspberry Oolong: A semi-oxidized tea with the rich taste of raspberries. Its fruity character makes it perfect for an ice-cold refreshment.
Green Apple-Elderberry Tea: A green tea with fresh apple and elderberry flavor. This combination provides a mild and slightly acidic taste, ideal for making a cool refreshing ice tea.
These blends provide a wide range of fresh and fruity flavors that will make your ice tea a refreshing and exquisite pleasure.
Iced tea with and without caffeine
Iced tea can be made both with and without caffeine, which allows you to adapt the drink to different preferences and needs:
With caffeine: Black, Oolong, green and white teas naturally contain caffeine. The classic flavors like Earl Grey or fruity blends like Green Cherry Blossom can make for a refreshing and delicious beverage.
Without caffeine: Herbal teas are caffeine-free and therefore a good choice for those who want a relaxing beverage. Varieties such as Rooibos Sea Buckthorn and Cool Herbal provide plenty of flavor without caffeine.
With the wide range of tea blends at Perchs, you can always find the right combination, whether you prefer an invigorating or relaxing iced tea.
Ice Tea can be enjoyed all year round
Although ice tea is most often associated with summer, this drink can also be a delicious and refreshing pleasure all year round. Here’s why and how:
Ice tea for the hot summer: In summer, iced tea is the ultimate refreshing beverage. Fresh, fruity flavours such as passion fruit, pineapple and berries work perfectly to quench thirst in the heat. The cold temperature and natural aromas make it ideal for hot days on the terrace or at the beach.
Ice tea with some spices and warmth for autumn: When temperatures start to drop, one can add spicy notes such as ginger, cinnamon and cardamom for a warming effect, although the drink is still served cold. These flavors add depth and comfort that pairs well with the colors of the season.
Ice tea for the winter holidays: In winter, you can experiment with different herbs such as mint, basil or rosemary to give the iced tea a boost and freshness. The fruit flavors can be complemented with citrus or cranberry to add a fresh flavor profile that goes well with the festive mood of the holiday season
An Ice Tea that welcomes spring: When spring sprouts, a light, floral iced tea can bring joy. Flavours such as jasmine, cherry blossom and lavender go well with the season and make the iced tea a symbol of renewal and freshness.
By adjusting the taste, sweetness and aroma, you can easily adapt the iced tea to suit every taste and season.
How to brew a mouthwatering cup of iced tea
To brew a good iced tea, brew the tea in a large strainer, so that the leaves
You can follow these steps to get the perfect Ice Tea every time:
- Brew a pot of hot tea with 80°C water and about 8 g. tea per liter of water.
- When the tea has steeped for 5-7 minutes, remove the tea leaves.
- Pour the hot tea directly over a good amount of ice cubes. The meeting between the hot tea and the cold ice cubes creates a shock-cooling effect that ensures a better result than if the tea is simply diluted with ice water and left in the fridge overnight.
- Iced tea can be sweetened or spiced at any time according to taste and preference – e.g. with cane sugar or honey. Herbs such as mint, basil or fresh lemon balm both decorate and are used to give an extra touch of flavor. Experiment with different blends until your personal favorite blend is found.
With this recipe, you can easily adjust the sweetness, taste and decoration to suit every taste and occasion.
How Long Should Ice Tea Steep?
Tea should generally steep for between 5-7 minutes to avoid a bitter taste. When the tea leaves are removed, add any sweetener and pour the tea over ice cubes and place in the refrigerator. Filtered water is recommended for a softer taste.
If you want a slightly stronger Ice Tea, you can always add an extra tea bag or tea leaves to your Ice Tea mix.
How to serve your Ice Tea
Serving ice tea can be done both elegantly and festively. Here are some ideas that can make serving your homemade ice tea a special experience:
Basic Serving Tips:
Ice cream: Always serve the iced tea over plenty of ice to keep it nice and cool.
Glasses: Use tall, clear glasses to showcase the color and decoration of the iced tea.
Adding Garnishes
Citrus fruits: Add slices of lemon, lime, or orange for a zest of freshness. These citrus fruits typically complement the slight bitterness of tea.
Berries: Fresh berries such as strawberries, raspberries or blueberries provide color and a slight sweetness.
Herbs: Fresh mint or lemon balm are not only decorative but also add a refreshing flavor.
Festive additions:
Straws and umbrellas: Colorful straws or small drink umbrellas can add a fun and festive touch, especially at social gatherings.
Ice cubes with contents: Freezing ice cubes with small berries or small pieces of fruit inside can make your iced tea even more inviting.
Sweeteners
Sweetness Adjustment: Adjust the sweetness of your iced tea with natural sweeteners such as honey or agave syrup, which can be added while the tea is still hot so that they dissolve effectively.
With Perchs’ selection of quality blends and serving tips, you can enjoy exquisite flavours with homemade ice tea
Iced tea is not just iced tea – Choose quality tea from Perchs
By using quality blends from Perchs, you ensure that your ice tea is not only refreshing, but also filled with exquisite flavours. Blends such as Green Apple, Elderberry Tea , or Caribbean Star are a great choice for a nuanced flavor profile.
The benefits of using loose tea over ready-to-drink drinks
Tailored taste: With loose tea, you can adjust the steeping time and the amount of sweetness to precisely hit your desired flavor profile. This provides the flexibility to customize the flavor according to personal preference.
Freshness and quality: Loose tea ensures that you get fresher ingredients with more aromatic and full-bodied notes than in ready-mixed iced tea products.
Control of additives: By making the iced tea yourself, you can completely avoid unnecessary additives and preservatives that are often found in ready-made drinks.
These benefits make tea from Perchs a great choice for a fresh and flavorful ice tea that you can enjoy all year round.
How to store your freshly brewed Ice Tea
To ensure that your freshly brewed ice tea retains its flavor and freshness, proper storage is essential. Here are some tips for optimal storage:
- Store in the refrigerator: Ice tea should always be stored in the refrigerator to maintain freshness and prevent bacterial growth.
- Use a tight-fitting container: A jug or bottle with a tight-fitting lid will prevent the iced tea from absorbing odours from other foods in the fridge and retain its original aroma.
- Shelf life: Homemade ice tea can usually be stored for up to a week, but it is recommended to enjoy it within 2-3 days to ensure the best flavor.
- Avoid metal containers: Metal can affect the taste of the iced tea. Glass or plastic containers are ideal for preserving the authentic taste.
- Add extra flavor when serving: Keep the base neutral and add fruit, herbs or sweeteners when serving to adapt the iced tea to your preference.
With proper storage, you can enjoy your ice tea for a long time, while the taste and aroma remain fresh.