In the previous post we talked about the basics of brewing tea. Amount of tea, Temperature and Time are are measured for a single strong, but not too bitter cup or pot. However, there are several ways to adjust the method to make the perfect iced tea for you and the time you have to enjoy it.

1. Cold Brewing: Using 1 teaspoon of tea per 8 ounces of cold water and steep for 6-8 hours. The cold water reduces the extraction of the bitter compounds of tea. As a result the long steep produces a lighter more floral infusion. If you steeped it longer and it is a touch bitter, add water to dilute to taste. This works well with Black and Green tea, but Oolong is my favorite.
   

   Iced Brewed Green Tea

2. Ice Brewing: This is a perfect way to enjoy a warm and relaxing afternoon. Stack as much ice in a cup or a wide mouthed pot and pour 1 teaspoon of tea per 8 ounces. After 20 minutes of partaking in your favorite lounging activity, you are ready for your first pour. White Tea and Green Tea are best for this method. Feel free to add more ice to keep the pot going.

3. Instant Iced Tea: This is the quickest way to a cup of tea in the list, but “instant” is a little exaggeration. In this tea brewing method you would brew everything as you would for a hot cup of tea, but are suggested to add double the amount of tea. The result is a concentrate that can be diluted with ice and be chilled without being watered down.

So there are three options to enjoy a cup or pot of iced tea. Always feel free to adjust the time, temperature or amount to come up with the perfect brewing technique for you.

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There seems to be two different types of people 1) Those who love kombucha and 2) Those that know nothing about it. In this short article I want to go over some basics.

1. Kombucha is the drink that is derived from a sweet tea fermented by a Symbiotic Colony of Bacteria and Yeast (SCOBY). A green, oolong or black tea is mixed with sugar and the Scoby also known as Mother is added to the mix for 2 to 4 weeks. The result is fizy slightly sweet and slightly sour drink.
2. Kombucha is commonly found in many grocery stores but can be made at home. Dehydrated Scoby can be bought over the internet, however it is best to get an established Mother from a friend. When trying kombucha for the first time, it is wise to drink a little at a time for your body to get used to this most unusual drink.
3. Most bottled kombuchas are flavored with fruit, herbs and hibiscus. Home made kombucha can be flavored after the scoby is removed from the tea mixture. This steeping of fruit should be done in the refrigerator to reduce the production of carbon dioxide.

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