Talk:Iced tea

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[edit] Random issues

Somebody please wikify the article, wikipedia is not a recipe site. --81.21.45.44 19:45, 24 May 2006 (UTC)

I think it would be useful to clarify in the article whether iced tea originated in the US, whether it's really fairly limited to the US, etc. It is such a common drink here (I have never heard of a restaurant NOT serving it) that it's difficult to believe that it is so uncommon in other countries, but that is what the article as it is would lead me to believe. (And if that is the case, it might be good to make it more overt.) Also might be good to comment on the fact referenced in the Sweet Tea article that most iced tea is black. Green tea is sold iced (although as a displaced Yankee living in the South, when I've served it to otherwise polite guests they have literally dumped it out and asked what on earth was wrong with the tea), but I've never seen iced white or oolong tea in stores. --Injoy 17:06, 12 August 2006 (UTC)

Both of the above appear to have been taken care of by various folks (Durty Willy 01:16, 30 August 2006 (UTC))


[edit] Iced tea by country

India's sub-heading has only one word: "chai." Weak! It also seems India should be removed from this article entirely. Does anyone who has any experience know if chai is ever served cold in India? The Wikipedia article appears to indicate it is always served hot, never cold, but I'd like backup before it's deleted just in case. The chai main article might be lacking, after all;). Durty Willy 01:16, 30 August 2006 (UTC

Hi, I wanted to put in a little snippet about iced tea in Canada. Anyone have any objections? This was what I was thinking...

In Canada, much like most of Europe, iced tea is often served as an alternative to carbonated soft drinks. Iced tea is almost always served sweetened, and is usually lemon-flavoured, but iced tea flavoured with raspberry, peach or made with green teas are also becoming more common. Powdered iced tea is the most common preparation at home, due to it's ease of use. Witchbaby 16:29, 28 January 2007 (UTC)
Sounds like a description of the U.S., too. (Except for the spelling for flavoured/flavored :-) My biggest concern (and I haven't read the rest of the article to see if it meets the same standard) is that it's a lot of generalization without any cited sources. I know how silly that sounds since you probably live there and know the information first-hand, but sourced information is the Wikipedia way. Back to your actual comments as they relate to the US, it appears to me that the usage of powdered iced tea concentrate has declined, and fresh brewed tea is making headway. This could be due to creations like the Mr. Coffee Iced Tea brewing system and the ready availability of cold-brew tea bags. I don't know if there is a similar trend in Canada, but if that's true in both places, it might be better to apply your statement to both countries. Just some thoughts since you asked. :-) --Willscrlt (Talk·Cntrb) 23:01, 28 January 2007 (UTC)
Fresh-brewed ice tea is becoming more popular, particularly since tea shops are more and more common. However, powder and concentrate is still what most people use at home and I've NEVER seen cold-brew tea-bags on the market. Thanks for your advice. I'll wait to see if anyone else has any input before I post my bit.Witchbaby 19:22, 30 January 2007 (UTC)
I agree with Witchbaby, that is a good addition to the article that is pertinent. —Preceding unsigned comment added by Ghyslyn (talk • contribs) 06:43, 16 April 2008 (UTC)

[edit] Fresh tea

Does anybody know how long iced tea will last before it's not fresh tasting anymore? Blamblamblam 18:10, 8 December 2006 (UTC)

I know some people request a fresh glass of tea once half the ice has melted, because it waters the tea down too much for their taste. In the U.S., brewed iced tea (and sometimes fountain-style iced tea made from a syrup concentrate) usually comes with free refills in restaurants. In upscale coffee shops, every glass of iced tea costs, just like the coffee. As far as just letting it sit out, without ice... I think it is a matter of taste. If there are no leaves or lemons in the tea, it keeps pretty well (24-48 in a refrigerator). Sometimes you can tell, sometimes you can't. The restaurant of a hotel I used to work at would make up large batches of iced tea for conventions, and the left-overs would sit in the walk-in refrigerator and be served to customers of the restaurant until it was used up (just one of several policies that I felt was unsavory). If any leaves remain in the bottom of the container or if lemons are floating in it, the tea can turn undrinkably bitter in just a few hours. --Willscrlt (Talk·Cntrb) 23:09, 28 January 2007 (UTC)

[edit] what kind of tea?

is iced tea a type of black tea? iced tea bags mention it contains Orange Pekoe. --Philo 18:56, 26 October 2006 (UTC)

Iced tea is almost always made from black tea. Orange Pekoe is refers to a grade (size) of the tea and has nothing to do with the color or fruit. Wayne Goode 18:41, 20 August 2007 (UTC)

Could someone maybe give the origins of iced tea please? I have read that it was invented in 1908 in Saint Louis by an English man. Thanks. S.

[edit] Can it be made cold?

Is there any reason why 4 or 5 tea bags can't be floated in 2 litres of COLD water to make the iced tea? Does it have to be brewed hot? I was recently asked whether any of the health benefits of green tea were lost or gained by not using heat to make the tea. I didn't know the answer and came here for some guidance.—Preceding unsigned comment added by 4.231.240.159 (talk • contribs) 17:34, December 13, 2006

  • I think tea is a solution, and things dissolve better with heat. Fast moving molecules disperse the solute. I guess the same would go for a suspension.Blamblamblam 21:31, 24 December 2006 (UTC)
  • Most regular tea bags do not produce an acceptable iced tea if they are just left sitting in a glass of cold water. Others do okay, and will say so on the package instructions. Trying to brew tea in ice water is essentially pointless, because the tea never seems to disperse (as Blamblamblam mentioned). Invariably, cold-brewed tea takes longer to reach full-strength—15 to 20 minutes at a minimum has been my experience. There are some new cold-brew tea bags that are available in the U.S. (Celestial Seasonings is one company that makes these), and they are designed to steep in cold water. I don't know what makes them different from regular tea bags, but the results are quite good. Another way to make cold-brewed tea is in Sun tea style. You fill a 1 gallon jar with a screw-on lid (they used to make jars labeled as sun tea jars that included spigots to pour the tea once its made, but I have not seen any in the stores in recent memory). Fill the jar nearly to the top with freshly drawn water. Dangle 5-8 standard tea bags evenly spaced around the rim of the jar, soaking in the water with the strings hanging out of the jar for easier recovery later. Screw the lid on over the strings, and set the jar in a spot that is in direct sunlight for a few hours (but probably not one where other people could tamper with it). After several hours, the water should be a nice tea-color, and you can remove the tea bags and enjoy the tea (you might want to taste it first to be sure it's the right strength). Ambient temperatures, amount of sunlight, brand of tea, and other factors all affect the taste, strength, and quality of sun tea. I remember sun tea being the most popular during the late 70s and early 80s, and was popular within the natural foods movement, at least in California where I was raised. --Willscrlt (Talk·Cntrb) 23:24, 28 January 2007 (UTC)

[edit] Half and Half

"There is also a growing popularity in the United States for a some-what new idea of a mixed drink called "Half and Half."

I'm considering removing or modifying the "some-what new" tag. It might be fairly new to the commercial market, but I've been ordering this since the 1960's.Saxophobia 17:18, 2 August 2007 (UTC)

[edit] 'in the uk...'

'most people prefer to drink their tea hot'

I'm sorry, but iced tea is a soft drink. IT is not drunk in place of tea, it is marketed as a soft drink. I really think this ought to be changed. —Preceding unsigned comment added by Harrifer (talk • contribs) 22:04, 4 October 2007 (UTC)