Sweet Tea

This is a nice, sturdy gallon jug, with a good lid.  I am re-using, obviously.  I couldn't find my funnel, so I cut the bottom off of a soda bottle.  I bought some cheap black tea bags at the dollar store.  I like to taste tea...so I use 15 bags for 1 gallon of tea.  It takes a little time to extract the bags from their coverings...but worth it.  I usually do it while I wait for the water to heat up.  I take a medium size pot and fill it about 2/3rds full of water.  I add the sugar and then heat it just to boiling.  1 cup is pretty sweet for me, so I add about 3/4 cup.  Farmer J says mine is sweet...so I add less when I know he will be drinking it.  I add it to the water and heat it so the sugar melts.

I turn off the heat and add the tea bags.  For fifteen minutes.  It will get stronger the longer it sets.  To the point where it will be bitter.  Not good.  Also...when you take the bags out...don't squeeze them.  It is tempting, I know.  That action will also make it bitter with tannic acid. 

Please, don't squeeze!

Here you can see I poured the warm tea and sugar mix in the jug, and filled it the rest of the way with water.  You can put it over ice to drink now, or just put it in the fridge to get cold.

Now...if you like your tea with lemon...have at it. 

Or, how about making a gallon of lemonade.  Then you can make a drink called an Arnold Palmer. 

Anyway...if you want it super cold and not diluted, make tea ice cubes.


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