KarenNC Posted February 5, 2018 Share Posted February 5, 2018 Southerners, when you are making ice tea do you steep it (pour boiling water over the tea bags and let it sit) or boil it (boil the tea bags along with the water? There's a discussion on the hotdish thread about whether this may be regional within the South, so if you're willing, include your area. I'm from NC and I've always steeped, as did my mother (also from NC). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bootsie Posted February 5, 2018 Share Posted February 5, 2018 I am from Louisiana and we always steep it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ktgrok Posted February 5, 2018 Share Posted February 5, 2018 Floridian, steep. But a good long time! And you make a concentrate, then add water/ice. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Critterfixer Posted February 5, 2018 Share Posted February 5, 2018 Arkansas. Steep. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted February 5, 2018 Share Posted February 5, 2018 (edited) MD, for what its worth. My mom boils tea bags in water, then pours it into the pitcher with more cold water. We used to add sugar. Edit: the tea bags and formerly boiled water sit for a while first. Edited February 5, 2018 by Guest Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jpinAL Posted February 5, 2018 Share Posted February 5, 2018 Alabama - steep, poor over ice and stir in sugar syrup Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
VaKim Posted February 5, 2018 Share Posted February 5, 2018 I used to bring a pan of water and tea bags just to almost boiling, then turn the heat off, cover, and let set for however long (depending on when I got back to it). Now I boil water in my electric kettle and pour it over the bags in the pan, cover, and let it set. I don't let it set until it is cool, though. Then I pour the tea in the pitcher with more water and sugar. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Annie G Posted February 5, 2018 Share Posted February 5, 2018 My family steeped, but we were transplants as my folks were born and raised in Pennsylvania. Dh's family was born and raised in the south and they boil. My family's tea is lighter and less sweet while tea dh's family makes is more concentrated and very sweet. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
purpleowl Posted February 5, 2018 Share Posted February 5, 2018 (edited) Boil a pot of water. Add tea bags and let steep, preferably for 24 hours. Then put a bunch of sugar in the pitcher, add the steeped tea, add water until the pitcher is full, and stir. I grew up in Georgia. I rarely make iced tea these days. Edited February 5, 2018 by purpleowl Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DoraBora Posted February 5, 2018 Share Posted February 5, 2018 Texas -- steep for a long while to make it strong. I love to add sugar, but we stopped that at my house some years ago... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
foxbridgeacademy Posted February 5, 2018 Share Posted February 5, 2018 I'm from Indiana and growing up we boiled then let it sit until cool before poring into pitcher with water an sugar. I steep. I recently bought an electric kettle and loving it! Faster than my old stovetop kettle and if I forget about it it won't burn the house down. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Katy Posted February 5, 2018 Share Posted February 5, 2018 Seriously? no one but me and the one person in the other thread was raised boiling it??? 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Seasider Posted February 5, 2018 Share Posted February 5, 2018 Deep South - steep. If you want to get picky, in a stainless steel pot. Bring water to a boil, remove from heat and add tea bags. After about 10 minutes remove bags and add sugar for the "hot melt" before icing. 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shawthorne44 Posted February 5, 2018 Share Posted February 5, 2018 I don't drink iced tea but DH born in Dallas does. He steeps, no boiling. His father was from rural Texas and his family was from the deep south. His mother was a British Kiwi. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
YaelAldrich Posted February 5, 2018 Share Posted February 5, 2018 NC bred (not born): Steep, but for LONG time, so that the tea gets really dark and tannic. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mykidsrmyjoy Posted February 5, 2018 Share Posted February 5, 2018 Alabama-steep. Bring water to a boil, remove from heat and add tea bags. Let steep for 10-15 minutes or so. Add sugar and dissolve then add cold water. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chelli Posted February 5, 2018 Share Posted February 5, 2018 Grew up in Arkansas and we steep. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Another Lynn Posted February 5, 2018 Share Posted February 5, 2018 Floridian, steep. But a good long time! And you make a concentrate, then add water/ice. This is what we do, plus sweetener. In KY. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted February 5, 2018 Share Posted February 5, 2018 But then again, that mr coffee thing we used steeped, so maybe it does work well. Idk. I just go to Chick-fil-A and zaxbys to get my sweet tea fix. Ohhhh chik's sweeeeeet teeeeea. mc'd is a poor substitute but it's on the way. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MooCow Posted February 5, 2018 Share Posted February 5, 2018 Steep. But I'm a transplant. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Zinnia Posted February 5, 2018 Share Posted February 5, 2018 Steep. But for a lot longer than when you make hot tea. Maybe 15 minutes? I use 5 family tea bags per 1/2 gallon, and I just wait until it gets the right color. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Big Buckin' Longhorn Posted February 5, 2018 Share Posted February 5, 2018 Deep South - steep. If you want to get picky, in a stainless steel pot. Bring water to a boil, remove from heat and add tea bags. After about 10 minutes remove bags and add sugar for the "hot melt" before icing. Exactly like this. Central Texas. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TravelingChris Posted February 5, 2018 Share Posted February 5, 2018 Steep. But then I make unsweet tea. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Momto6inIN Posted February 5, 2018 Share Posted February 5, 2018 Deep South - steep. If you want to get picky, in a stainless steel pot. Bring water to a boil, remove from heat and add tea bags. After about 10 minutes remove bags and add sugar for the "hot melt" before icing.I'm in Indiana and this is what I do (I was taught by someone who lived in SC) Sent from my Z988 using Tapatalk Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
purpleowl Posted February 5, 2018 Share Posted February 5, 2018 24 hours?! Oh man that’s a new one on me unless it is steeping in the fridge. The tannins must be intense! I seem to recall Mom saying at least 8 hours, preferably 24. Just steeps on the (cool) stovetop! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Critterfixer Posted February 5, 2018 Share Posted February 5, 2018 Now, who here has had sun-tea? My grandma used to make her sweet tea that way back in East Texas. I vividly remember a big glass jar full of water and teabags sitting on a stump in the sun for hours. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pawz4me Posted February 5, 2018 Share Posted February 5, 2018 NC -- steep. I put hot faucet water in a small pot to preheat it while I boil water in an electric kettle. Then I empty the water in the pot, pour the boiling water over the tea bags and allow them to steep for 12-15 minutes. Mix with more water and ice to make however much tea (sometimes I make a half gallon and sometimes a gallon). I have boiled. One of my best friends (born and raised here) boils. I seem to vaguely remember that my paternal grandmother boiled. i can't tell a tremendous difference in steeped versus boiled. Everyone I know makes a concentrate. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lady Florida. Posted February 5, 2018 Share Posted February 5, 2018 (edited) I'm not sure if I count as a southerner. Born in NJ and spent my first 13 years there. 40+ years in Florida, which is kind of southern but kind of not and depends on which part of the state you live in. That said, no I don't boil tea. Neither do dh's Tennessee relatives. Edited February 5, 2018 by Lady Florida. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Katy Posted February 5, 2018 Share Posted February 5, 2018 Texas... steep. Who boils the water with the tea bags in it??? Wouldn't the tea bags break open? Only if you use Lipton. Luzianne doesn't seem to break open. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Free Indeed Posted February 5, 2018 Share Posted February 5, 2018 Put tea bags and water in a stainless steel pan. Heat, but don’t boil ðŸ˜. Turn off heat and let seep for 15 ish minutes. Pour in pitcher with sugar and stir till dissolved. Then add cool tap water. Delicious! 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Scarlett Posted February 5, 2018 Share Posted February 5, 2018 Arkansas. Steep. Arkansas, steep also. I can still hear my 8th grade home ec teacher yelling 'Don't boil the tea!!' (as she was frantically removing the boiling tea from the burner because well, someone was boiling the tea--not me because my mom raised me right. ;)) 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sarasue7272 Posted February 5, 2018 Share Posted February 5, 2018 I grew up boiling. I’m pretty shocked at all these steeper’s. Now I just bring it to a simmer. I like my tea strong. My in laws steep, but they like weak tea, it’s basically flavored water. But like others have said, boil it for a few minutes then let it sit until the rest of dinner is done. Tea is always the last thing you make. You can always heat it back up so the sugar will dissolve. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Caroline Posted February 5, 2018 Share Posted February 5, 2018 Maryland, but my mom is from Ohio, so that is where she learned to make tea---We always steeped it. Or made sun tea. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EMS83 Posted February 5, 2018 Share Posted February 5, 2018 (edited) Midwestern parents, raised in the South. Both? Bring bags & water to a boil, then turn off the heat and steep for 30 minutes before adding sugar and cold water to make a gallon. ETA: I've only busted bags once, when I forgot to turn the heat off soon enough. I set timers now. :) Edited February 5, 2018 by CES2005 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Critterfixer Posted February 5, 2018 Share Posted February 5, 2018 I have good memories of my mom making sun tea on the ledge of our deck in California. She had a special clear pitcher and everything. I should totally do that for my kids in the summer, they’d love it. She used a fruity black tea (like a mango black) and sweetened it with some stevia. It was so good! I've heard it's a good way to get sick. Never got sick from it as a kid, though, or from raw cookie dough either. :laugh: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KarenNC Posted February 5, 2018 Author Share Posted February 5, 2018 If I leave the tea out overnight instead of putting it in the fridge (after removing the tea bags), it gets a weird taste to it which I think of as old or sort of fermented, even without sugar. Likewise sometimes I'll get tea out somewhere and it tastes what I describe as stewed or almost burnt. I've made sun tea, but that stays out longer without getting the off flavors because it's not a high heat. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Retired Posted February 5, 2018 Share Posted February 5, 2018 (edited) Seriously? no one but me and the one person in the other thread was raised boiling it??? I was raised boiling it. pan full of water with a large red diamond tea bag, then put in pitcher and fill with 1 cup sugar and tap water. My MIL still makes it that way. My mother was from Miami when she moved hear in 1968 and my grandma taught her this method. My mom would leave the tea bag in. yes her tea of potent LOL Its a very strong bitter tea compared to other methods. Once I started making money and trying different in southern restaurant I went to the this method bring pan of water to boil/pour over tea bags, seep tea bags for 5 min, add cup of sugar and water. I also only use filter water. It makes all the difference LOL We have a local restaurant that started selling their tea by the jug Milo's Its so addictive. In Alabama sadly babies are fed tea in their bottles. We still have a lot of baby teeth rot. Also we have lots of diabetes which I'm sure our sugar/tea culture doesn't help Edited February 5, 2018 by Cafelattee Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ktgrok Posted February 5, 2018 Share Posted February 5, 2018 Now, who here has had sun-tea? My grandma used to make her sweet tea that way back in East Texas. I vividly remember a big glass jar full of water and teabags sitting on a stump in the sun for hours. yummy, but very different tea. But yummy! 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pawz4me Posted February 5, 2018 Share Posted February 5, 2018 If I leave the tea out overnight instead of putting it in the fridge (after removing the tea bags), it gets a weird taste to it which I think of as old or sort of fermented, even without sugar. Likewise sometimes I'll get tea out somewhere and it tastes what I describe as stewed or almost burnt. Yes. I dislike "old" tea. I get that taste even if it's been in the fridge for much more than 24 hours. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lllll Posted February 5, 2018 Share Posted February 5, 2018 (edited) nm Edited February 7, 2018 by rozes 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jaybee Posted February 5, 2018 Share Posted February 5, 2018 Alabama-steep. Bring water to a boil, remove from heat and add tea bags. Let steep for 10-15 minutes or so. Add sugar and dissolve then add cold water. Same Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lady Florida. Posted February 5, 2018 Share Posted February 5, 2018 Steep it. Bring water to a boil, remove from heat, add tea bags and steep for about 12 minutes. Remove tea bags and squeeze all liquid out of them. Add sugar and stir occasionally until all dissolved. (Louisiana and SC) Same, except I don't boil all the water. If I'm going to make say a gallon of tea, I'll boil a quart, steep it and add sugar, then add the other 3 quarts. It gets cooled faster that way. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shawthorne44 Posted February 5, 2018 Share Posted February 5, 2018 Now, who here has had sun-tea? My grandma used to make her sweet tea that way back in East Texas. I vividly remember a big glass jar full of water and teabags sitting on a stump in the sun for hours. This is what I do for parties. I keep the ginormous glass container with the spigot at the bottom just for that. I figure that this is my version of the punch bowl with little glass cups that my mom brought out for parties in the 70's. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Frosch Posted February 5, 2018 Share Posted February 5, 2018 (edited) Boil water, pour water in a pitcher and steep tea bags for 10 minutes. For a gallon of tea, I add half a cup a sugar to the hot concentrated tea then add ice to fill the pitcher. Adding Ice instead of more water makes it taste sweeter with less sugar. That's why we have two ice makers. ;) I make at least a gallon of tea every day. Edited February 5, 2018 by Frosch Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rachel Posted February 5, 2018 Share Posted February 5, 2018 Seriously? no one but me and the one person in the other thread was raised boiling it??? My college roommate did it this way. She was from Ohio though. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Debbi in Texas Posted February 5, 2018 Share Posted February 5, 2018 I do not make tea anymore, but my parent (Arkansas) Boil the Tea. Then they let it "sit" until the next day and add water. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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