I was fretting about fridge space while making 3 different types of iced tea and thought of a simple solution that has given me much pleasure. Instead of making large amounts in big jugs that are unruly, cumbersome, and seem to strain my wrists, I make 3 small batches in mason jars, highly concentrated. Very highly concentrated. Then I just pour a tiny amount in a glass with a ton of ice and water. Done! The jars of this concentrated tea last about a week in our house because really, you only need a tablespoon or so. And the beauty here is 3 mason jars take up no room in the fridge at all. I like to make a peach/hibiscus batch, a green tea/peppermint batch, and a berry/black tea batch. I also am crazy about jasmine tea, and love it iced just as it is. I am trying to have less of the iced latte kind of afternoon snack and more of the iced green tea kind. It's better for me—so they tell me. And I swear coffee (and fried food) are getting harder for me to deal with as I get all old lady. I find this tragic, but true.
*Updated:
More specific information about the water/tea ratio has been requested. I think it's "to your personal taste" but to not be totally annoying here's what I do (which varies every time, but this comes close.)
I put 5-6 bags of tea in a mason jar that is size of that one there in the photo. How big is that? Not sure, but it's a normal mason jar size. Sorry. Then I fill it with cold water and let it sit in the fridge overnight. Then I squeeze the heck out of the bags and use about 2 tablespoons of this concentrated tea per 12 ounces of water. If you like it stronger you can add more of the tea, or less water, you get the idea. I like it unsweetened. If I wanted sweetener, I'd add that to my glass, not to the master batch. I also love to use loose tea, so if I do that, I use about 3 teaspoon of loose tea and about 3 teabags. I strain the next day when I take out the bags. And regarding creepy tea funk, we drink it pretty fast and don't leave the bags in, nor do I let it steep outside the fridge, so no barfing yet! (Sorry if I made it all sound gross, it's really really good, I promise.)
Unrelated:
-I loved this article about vintage sewing machines over at The Collectors Weekly.
-I really really think this needs to be made as soon as raspberries are here. Imperative.
-The Tie One On aprons are coming in and look awesome—and so do the pie recipes. So rad. I have posted the book I will giveaway to a lucky apron maker for this theme, so take a peek.
