Near Adagio's East Coast headquarters in New Jersey, its been... HOT. Unseasonably warm to say the least. So hot days a fresh in our mind. We can easily imagine such a day in 1904, in Missouri at the The Louisiana Purchase Exposition, aka the St. Louis World's Fair.

In the sweltering heat, a fellow tea vendor wasn't exactly enticing a crowd with samples of his hot teas. In a stoke of genius, (or an act of desperation), he borrowed some ice from a neighboring ice cream vendor, and... you can see where this is going. The rest, as they say, is history.


Flash forward to 2018, where iced teas, (when considering the pre-made, bottled varieties) make up roughly 80% of the US tea consumption.

Want to elevate your iced tea enjoyment? Here are some tips:

1. Upgrade the qualiTEA!

Most pre-made iced teas are made from low quality teas, or tea "dust" or "fannings" essentially just something to color the water - and who knows what other ingredients are in there?! "Tea flavoring" shouldn't be a thing, but alas here we are.

Finding quality teas that you enjoy is easier than ever. All teas can be prepared hot or iced, so enjoy the teas you like!

2. Make your brewing process easier with the COLD brew method

We've been getting a lot of questions about the best ways to brew up your iced teas, whether making a glass or pitcher. Here is our advice to you:

COLD Brewing is the best (and easiest method)

Use the ratio of 1 teaspoon of tea per 8oz of water

Place your tea in an infuser or paper filter

Plop it right in your pitcher with fresh, cold water

Place the whole shebang in the fridge overnight (8-10 hours)

ENJOY!

Keeping it all cold (under 40°F) ensures that no unwanted bacteria can be lurking (attention sun-tea makers!!) and serving it already cold means less watering down from the ice in your glass!

Should you wish to brew your teas in the traditional hot method, simply allow to chill full before serving! But if you're inpatient, and wish to pour hot, freshly brewed tea over ice, consider brewing with double the amount of loose tea to account for the ice-melt.

Check out our selection of handy iced tea pouches which are perfectly portioned for a 1 quart sized pitcher!

3. Mix it up and have fun!

Why not put your favorite flavored black tea, green tea, or herbal tea on ice? Fruits and tea are a naturally awesome combo! Favorite and long time TeaMuse contributor, Diana Rosen, gives us this fun idea for Tea Sangria:

Tea Sangria Recipe

Do you like sangria but don't want the alcohol? Make a Tea Sangria! Start with your favorite black iced tea or fruity herbal, and then add sliced fresh fruit like oranges, limes, whole berries, and chill in the refrigerator until ready to serve. Great to look at, and delicious to drink, too.

Fruits: Anything you like! Try thin rounds of sliced oranges, limes, lemons; peeled and sliced kiwi, berries, washed and dried, with stems removed; quarters of cored pears, Asian pears, or apples.

Try make ice cubes of brewed tea, water or juice for added flavor and a fun twist

Definitely chill your serving glasses and serving pitcher in the freezer.

Don't forget to garnish! Combine your ice, fruits, tea, and enjoy!

Note from our esteemed Tea Master, Cynthia!

Summer is peak iced tea season! Iced tea offers unparalleled refreshment and so much variety. Whether you like classic black iced tea brewed from full, fresh leaves like our Ceylon Sonata or something caffeine-free and super fruity, such as the ever popular Berry Blast, now is the time to stock up, steep, and sip.

Be sure to try some of your favorite hot teas as iced tea to experience them in a new way. Cold-brewing can bring out some of the more subtle nuances you may miss with standard steeping, providing a new dimensions to appreciate. This is especially true of complex oolongs and green teas. You can also add fun and flair but adding herbs, spices and fresh fruit garnishes. Get creative and keep cool!