Southern sweet ice tea , The Ingredients for one gallon: I/2 cup of loose tea , or 8 family size bags : 1 quart of just starting to boil water, 204 degrees, [ a hard boil will rid the water of oxygen and knock out that special "nectar" taste so unique to true southern ice tea ] : 3 quarts of cool water : sugar to taste--3/4 to 2cups etc. : Here is the secret ingredient--1/4 teaspoon of baking soda : 1. To make--sprinkle the baking soda into a gallon pitcher---add either the loose tea or the bag tea to the same pitcher---if using loose tea, put the loose tea inside a tea strainer, put the tea strainer over the top of the same pitcher and pour the hot water into the tea that is in the tea strainer and so into the pitcher, for tea bags just pour the hot water over them--- Cover and allow the tea to steep for 15 minutes---Add sugar to taste and stir until completely dissolved, or you can make a sugar syrup with a ratio 2 parts water to one part sugar by putting water and sugar in a saucepan ,bring to a boil, turn on low and stir for 2 or 3 minuted---Let tea cool, then refrigerate until cold--serve over ice and taste the wine of the south !----
Posted on: Mon, 05 Aug 2013 22:42:03 +0000