Sunday, March 1, 2009

Sweet Tea

One thing I do know is tea. Like most Southerners, I consider myself a tea aficionado. Coffee is not the first thing I think of when I wake up. It tends to make me a little crazy. No, the first thing I reach for is my kettle. I wish I'd put in one of those handy dandy instant hot water features in my sink. Still, there is something soothing about hearing a kettle on the stove. My favorite morning tea is just plain old Lipton or even the Kroger, or Walmart brand. Sometimes I drink Earl Grey. My favorite "four o'clock watching Oprah" tea is Tazo Sweet Wild Orange. I'm having trouble finding that one in my local stores. I also like Bigelow Lemon Lift. But for the morning I don't need adventure--just tea. Now sweet ice tea is a whole other story. Sometimes I drink it unsweetened, but mostly I think "why bother?". If the sugar (or even diet sweetener) is not put in the tea while it's hot, it's just not the same. Most dedicated tea drinkers I know have specific pots and pitchers used only for making tea. After making tea for a while, no measuring is needed. You just boil water up to this line in the pot and add water up to that line in the pitcher--simple. Sometimes I add fresh mint from my back yard. Beloved doesn't like it--says the tea tastes like toothpaste. It's taken me years to master drive-thru tea. I'm not much a fast food fan, so all I usually order is sweet tea. McDonalds, for example, has made vast improvements lately. Backyard Burger has the best in my opinion and don't even consider it at Taco Bell. Denise from the KoffordsinColorado blog is a native Californian living in Colorado. She was wondering about (and it sounded almost like a yearning) a recipe for sweet tea. So, not really having one, I measured as I made it last time. Here is the way we make it at our house.


Sweet Tea

4 regular size tea bags

9 cups water, divided

1/2-1 cup sugar or 2/3- 1 cup Splenda


Boil 4 cups of water with 4 teabags for one minute. Remove from heat and let steep for 5 minutes. Remove the tea bags and add your sugar or artificial sweetener while the tea is still hot. Add 5 cups cold water. You can add the sugar or sweetener later, but I won't vouch for the results. It just won't be the same. The tea in its pitcher is best left unrefrigerated. Sometimes it gets a little cloudy in the refrigerator. Serve with anything or nothing at all and enjoy!

17 comments:

  1. Hey Susan! Well, I'm not the tea drinker around our house! I gotsta have my coffee with a sweetnlow and some hazelnut creamer! My DH is the tea drinker. We even got him one of those Mr. Coffee teamakers for Christmas one year! Oh, he sneered at first being the tea snob that he was but he loves the thing! Now my son's are both sweet tea drinkers! Thanks for sharing! God Bless! Lauralu :)

    ReplyDelete
  2. Oh yippee skippee!!!! Thank you sooooo much for posting this awesome recipe for me!!!! I can't wait to try it and so appreciate your great description! I know it won't be the same as drinking it in the south, but it's about as close as I can get and I thank you!!! Yeah, you just made my night! I don't know that I can wait until morning to make it! Whoo Hoo!

    ReplyDelete
  3. When he was in college, my oldest son spent a summer with Campus Crusade for Christ in Lake Tahoe. He worked at Taco Bell for his job. One day they ran out of the instant tea mix they used, so he found some teabags and brewed tea. They sold more tea than ever before, but the Taco Bell folks said he had to go back to using the instant because that was the Taco Bell way.

    I like my tea sweet, but I find that most restaurants make it sweeter than I like. I usually order half and half.

    ReplyDelete
  4. Good Morning Susan! Thanks for visiting my blog so I can find yours! I appreciate your visit and your comments about my faux arrangmenet. :)

    I grew up in the south and LOVE sweet tea. Even though I want coffee first thing in the morning, I drink tea all afternoon. Do you just put sprigs of fresh mint in when it's hot or what is the best way to add the mint for flavor?

    I see you are a new blogger. Welcome and just dive right in. It's great fun!

    Donna

    ReplyDelete
  5. Morning, Susan, as a true southerner born and growing up in Alabama, I didn't know tea came any other way but sweet! :) I love it too - hot or cold!
    Be a sweetie and thanks for popping in to see me,
    Shelia ;)

    ReplyDelete
  6. Love the iced tea here!!!! thanks for leaving a comment on my blog and so pleased that it's now working again.....I was a worried blogger! :)

    Suzanne

    ReplyDelete
  7. Susan, I just had to come over and thank you from the bottom of my heart for the "receipe" of ashes and mayo on the water mark. IT WORKED! No more water stains!!!!!!!!!!! When I post my dining room I am going to give you all the credit for your wonderful suggestion!

    Hugs!
    Judy

    ReplyDelete
  8. Thanks for sharing! This Ohio girl lived in Kentucky for 3 years and I learned how to make sweet tea out of necessity!
    Thanks for visiting my blog yesterday!

    ReplyDelete
  9. I love sweet tea too! In fact I have a glass siting right here beside me. It's so refreshing and good! Thanks for the wonderful post on tea.

    ReplyDelete
  10. Sweet tea is sure a treat any time of the year! I love your post about random acts of kindness. I will make a point of doing just that!

    ReplyDelete
  11. Thanks so much for the recipe. I love sweet tea...and they don't have it out here much in S. Calif. Boo hoo. But I love it and can't wait to make it!
    Blessings,
    Debbie

    ReplyDelete
  12. Hi, Susan, thanks for stopping by. Hope youl'l try that doughnut recipe. I'm sure gonna make some soon, you can bet on that. Hope you'll come back to see me again!

    ReplyDelete
  13. Hey Susan! I have a little blogging award for you over at my blog! So come by when you can and pick it up!! Look forward to getting to know you! God Bless! Lauralu :)

    ReplyDelete
  14. I make my tea with a tea maker, using 3 quarts of water, 2 tea bags, and 1 and a 1/2 cups of sugar.

    ReplyDelete
  15. Amen! I am a huge fan of tea!! The wine of the South!!
    Have a great weekend!!
    Love Lilly

    ReplyDelete
  16. Yummy!! Thanks for sharing the recipes with us!

    ReplyDelete
  17. A fabulous gift idea that any mom & grandma links of london sale would be glad to accept is a mother's ring. There are countless styles to pick from london links charms and every one permits each of a mother's children's birthstone to be placed in the ring so mom & grandma can remember her children wherever she goes.Jewelry links london bracelet that is personalized or engraved makes great jewelry gifts for mom. You can have a particular word or meaningful expression engraved inside a ring, necklace or bracelet links of london earrings to demonstrate to your mother the depths of your feelings.Stylish watches are an additional idea for great jewelry gifts for mom. Your mother sweetie bracelet needs a stylish watch to go with her favorite outfit and perhaps even a few to go with her entire wardrobe.Another example of mom's & grandma's jewelry that makes a great gift is mother's earrings.

    ReplyDelete