Iced Tea was born in Missouri – Southern Simple Syrup
June is iced tea month! 
And as the story goes – iced tea was born in Missouri. A tea plantation owner was selling his tea, served as hot tea, at the first World Fair in St. Louis. The day was so scorching hot no one was interested in hot tea so he added ice – and quickly had a large crowd just waiting to try his brand ‘new drink’. Now, iced tea is the number one beverage – world wide!
Loose leaf tea easily makes a healthy and delicious iced tea! The choices are endless and gives you complete control of what goes into your beverage. The enormous amount of flavor produced from loose leaf tea eliminates the need for added chemical flavorings.
Here is an easy recipe to follow to produce a full pitcher of tea. Adjust tea amounts to your tastes – making it stronger or lighter.
Iced Tea from Loose Leaf Tea:
- Choose your favorite loose leaf flavor (tropical, raspberry, apricot…???) or go with a known winner Nilgris Award Winning Iced Tea.
- Plan for double the amount as a normal brewing of hot tea.
- As always recommended – filtered or natural spring water.
- Two teaspoons tea leaves per cup.
- Measure tea leaves into your brewing basket or easy T-Sacs
- Brew as normal with times and water temperatures - For white tea let steep for 5 to 7 minutes. For green tea, let steep for 2 or 3 minutes. For oolong and black tea, let steep for 4 to 5 minutes. For most herbal teas, the usual steeping time is 5 to 7 minutes.
- Best if tea can sit awhile till room temp. If chilled immediately cloudiness can occur. Once at room temp, add the extra water to make up for the double measurements. Go with your personal tastes and desired strength.
Southern Simple Syrup – we add fresh ginger pieces, too!
*1 cup sugar
* 1cup water
* few pieces of fresh ginger (optional)
Boil sugar and water till sugar is dissolved. Add fresh ginger. Let this set until cool. Add to tea – to your own taste.
