Refreshing Iced Tea by Don Kassing

REFRESHING ICED TEA

Including 14 of Our Favourite Recipes

Schefs Premium Products Press

DEDICATION

All rights reserved. This book or any portion thereof may not be reproduced or used in any manner whatsoever without the express written permission of the publisher except for the use of brief quotations in a book review.

“We Love Tea - so we hope you enjoy this e-book as much as we have enjoyed putting it together for you. At Schefs, we believe in truly enjoying the benefits of a great cup of tea and want to share that experience with you. So this e-book is dedicated to you - all of our wonderful customers. Whether you’re a seasoned tea drinker or just starting out, we want to say thanks!” Don

First Printing, 2015

WHY YOU SHOULD USE LOOSE LEAF TEA

Loose leaf tea has a number of advantages when compared to regular tea bags. • First, you’ll get a stronger, more intense tea in every cup, and your friends and family will instantly notice the difference. • Loose tea will have a fresh and clean taste, better flavor, and a more enticing aroma. • What’s more, there are many varieties to explore - in addition to the usual ‘black’, ‘green’ and ‘white’ tea bags that you find in the store. • Loose tea also retains more of the powerful plant polyphenols and antioxidants - which means you experience more of the health benefits!

Key Things to Know About Loose Leaf Tea

If youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re looking for a healthier, better-tasting alternative toTimes tea bags, Proper Temperature & Steep look no further than fresh loose leaf tea. Not only will it refresh you and provide you with a boost of energy, itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s a lot easier to work with than you might think. Below are our favorite things about loose leaf tea:

Fresh loose leaf tea can be steeped multiple times while maintaining great flavor

Fresh loose leaf tea is made from the full leaf of the Camellia sinensis plant, unlike tea bags which tea debris Fresh loose leaf tea retains its flavors and characteristics better than regular tea bags Loose leaf tea releases fewer tannins, which can compromise flavor and leave a bitter taste You can easily blend loose leaf teas to make your own special recipe 66

Although tea bags are convenient, brewing fresh loose leaf tea is easy with a great tea strainer 77

Making the Best Iced Tea

The key to making really good tea boils down to just Japanese three things: Green Tea With Japanese green tea, the oxidation process is stopped • with Selecting the best teas fresh ingredients steam which results in aand grassy taste and a bright color. the There arecorrectly a many different types of Japanese • green Brewing tea green tea but some of the most popular selections include: • • Knowing Bancha. how to sweeten your tea • Genmaicha. • Gyokuro. • Matcha. • Sencha.

SELECTING THE RIGHT TEA

Black Teas Traditional iced tea is often made from the most common black teas. Although this is always a safe choice, there are a number of reasons to look beyond the old standard. Black teas often have strong flavors that don’t always show well when cold brewing (our recommended approach). In addition, if you are using a traditional steeping method by boiling, it can be very easy to over steep the tea, leaving you with a bitter taste. However with a proper steep and the right amount of tea you can certainly make a great iced tea from many black tea blends. Recently, we have found some wonderful blends that combine interesting spices and herbs that have produced some top notch iced teas.

White, Green, & Roasted Oolong Teas If you are willing, there are some amazing iced teas that can be made from other great teas. A recent article on Serious Eats highlighted the benefits of looking at white, green and roasted oolong teas as options. We particular have enjoyed using the roasted oolong teas. Combined with our cold brewing technique, roasted oolong has been a fantastic flavor revelation. We’ve found that the roasted oolong has a nice crisp flavor. White tea has a wonderful light refreshing and creamy flavor that is worth trying. The green teas have a more grassy flavor as one would expect (especially Japanese sencha). The grassy flavor is refreshing, but not every ones “cup of tea”. However it is certainly worth a try. 10 10

11 11

BREWING ICED TEA Cold Brewing Many of us remember traditional “sun tea”, but today you can get that wonderful flavor with nothing but a pitcher and your refrigerator. No need for an iced tea maker or leaving a large pitcher of tea out on your porch. Once you have selected a great tea, making a wonderful pitcher of cold brew tea comes down to just two things: how much tea and

Tradtional Steeping If you don’t have time to cold brew your iced tea, you can always use the traditional brewing method. We recommend two modifications to your traditional brewing techniques. First, use the same proportions of one heaping teaspoon per quart, but only heat half of the water. Make sure not to over-steep or you will produce a bitter after taste. Second, once your tea has steeped for the appropriate amount of time pour, it over a full pitcher of ice. This should bring the full volume back to a quart once the ice has melted. We find this method preferable to brewing a full quart of tea and then adding ice because it produces a smoother drink. Once again, we recommend using a strainer to ensure that no tea debris makes it into your cup

how long to steep. Lets look at steep times first. We have found that most teas need at about 8 hours to brew in the refrigerator. However the wonderful thing is that most teas will continue to have an amazing flavor even if you leave it cold brewing for up to 24 hours. So simply make sure you have at least 6 to 8 hours and you should be good. If you find the tea is too light then just make sure to add more tea the next time. As far as the right amount of tea, we always suggest starting with a heaping tablespoon per quart. This should produce a flavorful brew for most teas. Of course, you can adjust from here to get the right flavor for you. We recommend using a tea strainer designed for iced tea such as our Schefs Large Tea Strainer 12 12

13 13

PICKING THE RIGHT STRAINER Schefs has made picking the right strainer simple. We carry a full line of premium stainless steel strainers from single cup strainers to multi-cup strainers which are perfect for making a full pitcher of wonderful Iced-Tea.

Multi-Cup Tea Filter (Available on Amazon: B012T8SX1I) Our Schefs multi-cup tea filter can be used with a large cup or tea kettle. Designed specifically for hot brewed iced-tea, you can place it directly into your kettle or in a large iced filled 64 oz cup. Either way you can make multiple servings of flavorful iced tea without having to brew an entire Pitcher Brewing a single cup of iced tea is easier than you think. Just make sure to brew about 50% of the size drink you want and then pour it over a full glass of ice. If you are brewing a single cup of tea, the following strainers should be ideal:

If your brewing a full quart of Iced-Tea we have a some amazing multicup tea strainers to consider:

Multi-Cup Tea Strainer (Available on Amazon: B00VHGW9EG) Our Schefs multi-cup strainer is perfect for both cold and hot brewed Iced-Teas. It holds enough tea to make a flavorful quart of tea. With plenty of room for your tea to expand and bloom, you will get the full flavor and

Single Cup Tea Strainer

Long Handled Tea Infuser

B00KX9XFCS

B01E04501U

Check out the entire line of Schefs products on Amazon here: Schefs Amazon Store

depth of any tea you choose. 14 14

15 15

SWEETENING YOUR TEA

If you are looking for healthier alternatives or just looking for a different

Using Simple Syrup

• Coconut Oil or Coconut Milk - Both add a sweet and earthy flavor. A

least recommended is to add granulated sugar (sweetener) after the

• Agave Nectar - With half the sugar of honey this is a great alternative

There are three basic ways to sweeten tea with sugar. The first and our tea has cooled. This is the least effective way to sweeten tea because it leaves large amounts of non-dissolved tea at the bottom of the pitcher or your glass. A simple work around is to add the sugar while the tea is boiling. However if you are cold brewing this is not an option. Therefore, our preferred method is to create a simple syrup and use it to sweeten your tea. This has two major benefits. First, you can sweeten the tea to your own liking. Everyone can add just the right amount of simple

Other Sweeteners flavor profile, you can try one of the alternative sweeteners below: • Honey - Adds some nice floral flavor notes as well as reduces bitterness. However, it still has a high sugar content so other choices may be better. small amount goes a long way. for people who want to cut down on sugar calories. It has a strong flavor and sweetness so a small amount will usually do. • Stevia - You can simply add a stevia leaf to your pitcher or you can use one of the stevia powders. Like agave nectar, you wont need much. • Sweet Herbs - surprisingly a number of herbs provide a sweetness and unique flavor that can add some wonderful notes to your tea. The ones below are some of our favorites:

syrup to their glass if they choose. Second, it is easy to make and can

• Citrus Peels

• Lemongrass

be refrigerator for up to a week. Here is our recipe:

• Hibiscus Flower

• Lemon Verbena

Ingredients

Directions

• Licorice Root

• Honeybush

• 1 cup granulated sugar • 1 cup water

In a small saucepan heat the sugar and water and bring to a boil. When the sugar is completely dissolved remove from heat and cool to room temperature. Refrigerate, covered, for up to 1 week.

16 16

17 17

ICED TEA RECIPIES

“Almost” Traditional Southern Sweet Tea

A staple of southern cuisine and a favorite in our own back yard of Summerville, South Carolina. In fact, Summerville is the original home of sweet tea and we just set the record for the largest glass of sweet tea in the world. The secret ingredient is a pinch of baking soda which adds a creaminess and balance. Of course you can leave this out if you want the traditional recipe.

Ingredients • Fresh loose leaf tea (1 heaping tablespoon per quart) • A pinch of baking soda (optional) • A quart of bottled or distilled water • Simple Syrup to taste Directions • Place a tablespoon of tea into your Schefs Tea Strainer. • Place the strainer, water, and baking soda into a pitcher and place in the refrigerator for 12 hours. • When ready to serve, add Simple Syrup to taste.

18 18

19 19

Citrus Sweet Tea

Refreshing Cinnamon Tea

Ingredients • Fresh loose leaf tea (1 heaping tablespoon per quart) • 1/2 Quart of bottled or distilled water • 2 Cloves • 1 Cup of Pineapple Juice • 1 Cup of Orange Juice • Lemon Juice to taste (or use a fresh lemon cut in half and squeezed into the tea) • Simple Syrup to taste

Ingredients • Fresh loose leaf tea (1 heaping tablespoon per quart) - find a nice cinnamon blend if you can • Quart of bottled or distilled water • 4 cinnamon sticks • 3 teaspoons of dried thyme

Packed full of vitamin C, this citrus sweet tea can provide you with a boost of energy when you really need it. Try it in the morning to replace your cup of coffee. The fruit juices have plenty of sweetness so you can leave out the simple syrup if you like. Try this with a bergamot style Earl Gray. Its wonderful.

Directions • Place a tablespoon of tea into your Schefs Tea Strainer. • Place the strainer, water, pineapple juice, orange juice, cloves, and lemon juice into a pitcher and place in the refrigerator for 8-12 hours. • When ready to serve, add Simple Syrup to taste. 20 20

Looking for a healthy tea that can stand on its own without adding sugar? Try this refreshing cinnamon tea. You will notice a natural hint of sweetness and the thyme is surprisingly flavorful. For an extra bit of flavor select a cinnamon spiced loose leaf tea. Just watch for tea debris at the bottom of the pitcher. You can actually serve this hot or cold. If your feeling a bit under the weather, brew up a kettle.

Directions • Place a tablespoon of tea and the dried thyme into your Schefs Tea Strainer. • Place the strainer, water, and cinnamon stick, into a pitcher and place in the refrigerator for 8-12 hours. • When ready to serve, you can add Simple Syrup to taste - but we find this to be best without additional sweetening. 21 21

Very Sweet Blue Iced Tea

A fun take on the traditional sweet tea that can be as much fun to make as it is to drink. The special ingredient is colored rock candy based simple syrup but you can substitute food coloring and simple syrup if you like. The kids may even enjoy making this. Pick up some colored rock candy at the local store and try different colors. Ingredients • Fresh loose leaf tea (1 heaping tablespoon per quart) • Quart of bottled or distilled water • Colored Rock Candy Simple Syrup (to taste) Directions • Make a simple syrup by boiling water and colored rock candy. You can substitute normal simple syrup and food coloring as well. • Place a tablespoon of tea into your Schefs Tea Strainer. • Place the strainer and water into a pitcher and place in the refrigerator for 8 hours. • When ready to serve, add the Colored Simple Syrup to taste. • If you want the tea to have the color without the simple syrup just add food coloring to the tea.

22 22

23 23

Jasmine and Orange Iced Tea

Jasmine tea has a unique flavor that goes well with citrus and other fruits. This is a basic recipe that will help you explore the citrus and Jasmine combination. Once you have mastered it - try different versions using lemon, pineapple, kiwi, or any other fruit that strikes your fancy.

Ingredients • Jasmine loose leaf tea (1 heaping tablespoon per quart) • Quart of bottled or distilled water • 1 Orange sliced • Simple Syrup to taste Directions • Place a tablespoon of jasmine tea into your Schefs Tea Strainer. • Place the strainer, water, and orange slices into a pitcher and place in the refrigerator for 8 hours. • When ready to serve, add Simple Syrup to taste.

24 24

Orange Blossom Tea

Floral teas come in so many varieties its no surprise that we have tried different combinations with our favourite fruits. If you can find some nice orange blossom tea this is a wonderful recipe, but you can substitute just about any floral tea. Make sure to add some citrus as well to balance the flavor. We have used lemons in the version below.

Ingredients • Fresh loose leaf orange blossom tea (1 heaping tablespoon per quart) • Quart of bottled or distilled water • 1 Lemon sliced • Simple Syrup to Taste Directions • Place a tablespoon of your favourite floral tea into your Schefs Tea Strainer. • Place the strainer, water, and fruit into a pitcher and place in the refrigerator for 8-12 hours. • When ready to serve you can add Simple Syrup to taste - but we find this to be best with out additional sweetening. 25 25

Honey Earl Grey Iced Tea

Earl Grey is one of the most popular teas and can easily be found. Adding honey brings out the full flavor of the Earl Grey and turns an English Tea into a new take on summer iced tea. You can substitute another strong black teas in this recipe such as Irish or English Breakfast teas. The honey does wonders to reduce the edge and bitterness of the stronger black teas. Ingredients • Fresh loose leaf tea (1 heaping tablespoon per quart) • Quart of bottled or distilled water • Honey to taste

Directions • Place a tablespoon of tea into your Schefs Tea Strainer. • Place the strainer, and water into a pitcher and place in the refrigerator for 8-12 hours. • When ready to serve, add honey to taste. If your honey doesn’t dissolve completely, try heating up a bit of water with honey. Use this in the same way you would use a simple syrup.

26 26

27 27

EASY ICED TEA

Cold Brewing Some Favourite Tea Blends Directions for the following easy to prepare teas 1. Add 1 heaping tablespoon into your Schefs Tea Strainer 2. Place your Schefs Tea Strainer into 1 quart of water 3. Cold Brew in the refrigerator for 8 to 12 hours 4. Sweeten to taste

Davidson’s White Orange With Clove: A traditional clove-like tea, but lighter and full of orange flavor. No need to add any sweetener because the flavor stands on its own. This is a refreshing drink any time of the day. (Buy on Amazon)

Charleston Tea Plantation American Classic - Plantation Peach The only active tea plantation in the United States produces a number of wonderful blends, but this is our favourite. (Buy on Amazon)

TeaVert Organic “Madrid Fusion” Herbal Tea Blend Chamomile flowers, Hibiscus flower, and Rose hips, In a hand-crafted package that reflects TeaVerts organic and 28 28

environmental commitment. The blend is interesting and flavorful with strong floral overtones. (Buy on Amazon)

Numi Organic Tea Moroccan Mint - Herbal Tea In the Moroccan spring ,some of the most soothing, refreshing, and full-flavored mint flourishes. With a flavor as light and lively as a newly picked leaf, this organic mint will become your favourite mint tea. (Buy on Amazon)

Harney and Sons Japanese Sencha Loose Leaf Tea If you enjoy the vegetal flavor of Japanese Sencha, you should try the cold brewed version. There are a number of brands out there, but we find that Harney and Sons does a great job at a reasonable price. If you want a more traditional flavor go for one of the plantation specific organic blends. (Buy on Amazon)

Davidson’s Tea Irish Breakfast, Strong flavor plenty of caffeine - a nice blend of Ceylon and Assam teas with the right amount of bite for a brisk glass of cold brewed iced tea. This is an organic blend. (Buy on Amazon)

Charleston Tea Plantation American Classic - Rockville Raspberry An inexpensive take on a fruity iced tea. Quick and easy to make with a nice raspberry flavor. Of course you can always add fruit - but this black tea blend will do well on its own. (Buy on Amazon)

29 29

Join Schefs VIP Kitchen Club: Thanks for supporting Schefs. As a small family run business, it is people like you who have made us a top seller on Amazon.com – which makes you Awesome! So we want to give back. So join now and get some amazing benefits. Its our way to say thanks! What you get by joining: • Free samples • Win great stuff for your kitchen • Be a product tester for some of our NEW products • Grab exclusive offers and discounts • VIP customer service access • And Lots More!

https://aspire2shop.clickfunnels.com/schefs-vip-optin