Secret Ingredient Iced Tea

I know what you’re thinking. Summer’s over. Kids are back in school, pumpkin-spiced lattes are almost back, and everyone’s generally sad.

WELL, I don’t know about you, but where I live it’s still as hot as hell and all I want to do all day is drink icy drinks.

So, iced tea! It’s really so easy that it almost seems silly to write a recipe for, but there’s a secret ingredient I wanted to hare with you: baking soda! I know it sounds weird, but if you don’t like the bitterness tea can have, this will take it away and make your drink super smooth and refreshing. Highly recommended. I learned this from ths recipe and used it as an inspiration. Mine’s probably better if you’re not actually from the south and can’t handle drinks that are 95% sugar.

By the way, if you don’t have a big glass pitcher and you like iced tea, I recommend investing in one. You could probably make this is a pot and then transfer to any pitcher once it’s cold, just make sure you don’t make it in anything that’s not heat resistant, because you will regret it. Also, when using glass containers, be careful not to make quick changes in temperature or they might break. Never put cold water on hot glass, that is. When I make it I even let it cool for about an hour in room temp before putting in the fridge, just in case.

Here it is:

Ingredients:

4-6 tea bags (you can use whatever you want, black, green, herbal. In my last batch I used a combo of green and herbal lemon-ginger.)
1/8 teaspoon (AKA pinch) baking soda
2 cups boiling water
Sugar/other sweetner, to taste (I used less than 1/2 a cup and it came out way too sweet to my liking, so I diluted it with more water later. I would say start with 1/4 cup and go from there)
-6 cups cold water

Process:

1. Place the tea bags in a large glass measuring cup (or other heat-resistant container) and add the boiling water*.
2. Cover and let steep for 15 minutes (oops, I didn’t cover mine. Still came out great!)
3. Take out the tea bags and pour the mixture to a 2-quart pitcher/jar.
4. Add the sugar, stir well until it’s dissolved, and add the cold water.
5. Chill for a few hours and serve over ice. Or not.

That’s it! Easy, right? And a million times cheaper than buying in a coffee shop. AND, the funnest part: you get to experiment with different types and flavors of tea!

Enjoy, before the summer is really over!

*Little tip: if you don’t have a big glass pitcher and you like iced tea, I recommend investing in one. You could probably make this is a pot and then transfer to any pitcher once it’s cold, just make sure you don’t make it in anything that’s not heat resistant, because you will regret it. Also, when using glass containers, be careful not to make quick changes in temperature or they might break. Never put cold water on hot glass, that is. When I make it I even let it cool for a bit after steeping so that when I add the cold water it won’t crack, and after mixing I let it cool again for about an hour in room temp before putting in the fridge, just in case.