With this recipe from KoffiePiraat you can make your own iced tea in no time.

Imagine: it's a hot summer day and you're in the mood for something cool. Of course, nothing is as refreshing as iced tea. Unfortunately, you don't have any iced tea at home. Don't worry, with these recipes from KoffiePiraat you can make your own iced tea in no time.

Simple and fast

Making your own iced tea doesn't have to be difficult at all. You don't need much to do it yourself. In addition, homemade iced tea contains much less sugar (or even no sugar) than regular iced tea. So it is tastier and healthier. You often see homemade iced tea abroad. Especially in America it is normal to make your own iced tea.

The basics

There are many methods to make your own iced tea. For this article, we will use three different methods. These methods are all equally easy, but have certain advantages and disadvantages. Each method uses the same basic ingredients. These are:

• 3 - 4 Birchall tea bags (for example Birchall Green Tea Peach )
  
• 1 liter of water (temperature depends on the method)
  
• Honey or sugar
  
• Glass jug for pouring your iced tea
  

In addition to the basic ingredients, you can always make your iced tea even more special. You can do this by adding fruit and herbs (such as mint) to your own iced tea. Fruits include:

• Pineapple
  
• Peach
  
• Strawberry
  
• Kiwi
  
• Lemon
  

Let's start by making our own iced tea.

Warming up your iced tea

The hot method is perhaps the easiest method because it is very similar to the 'normal' way of making tea. Bring a litre of water to the boil and make the Birchall tea as you normally would, but now with 3 - 4 tea bags. Let the tea steep well and add sugar and/or honey if desired. Remove the tea bags. If you want to use fruit, citrus and/or herbs, this is the time to add them to your tea. Put the mixture in the fridge and let it cool. When the tea is cold enough, you can serve your own iced tea with ice cubes.

Cold brewing your iced tea

In addition to the hot method, there is also the cold method. This method takes a little longer, but the taste is much better. You start with 1 liter of cold water and 3 tea bags. Combine the water and the tea bags with sugar or honey if desired. Mix this well and put the tea in the refrigerator. The tea must definitely steep overnight. This way you get a subtle taste. Serve the cold iced tea with fruit and ice cubes.

The fastest method

Want to enjoy your own iced tea right away? Then this method is for you. Fill a large jug a quarter full with boiled water. Add your Birchall tea bags to this boiled water and let the tea steep. Remove the tea bags and add sugar and honey if desired. Fill the rest of the jug with cold water and you have your own iced tea.

With this method it is much more difficult to add fruit. The tea has almost no time to pick up the flavor. If you still want to add fruit or herbs, choose citrus such as lemon or orange.

It's that simple! The rest is up to your own imagination. For example, you decide which fruits you want to combine or whether you might add an extra tea bag. 

Want the best tea bags for your own iced tea? Get these Birchall varieties in the webshop of KoffiePiraat.

- Birchall Great Rift

- Birchall Green Tea

- Birchall Lemongrass & Ginger