In Kentucky we had iced tea but it was called Sweet Tea. Up here in my neck of the woods (Canada) we just call it Brewed Iced Tea, as opposed to the powdered stuff. Whatever it's called - I'm hooked. This is a very simple recipe for Sweet Tea and the amounts can be adjusted to how much tea you want
to make and how sweet you want it to be. I don't know if it's an 'authentic' sweet tea recipe but it tastes good!
Sweet Tea, Real Brewed Iced Tea
Makes a small (2 litre pitcher) full
About 25 minutes
3 regular sized tea bags (I used Lipton, but your favourite kind will do)
2 cups very hot or boiling water
1/2 to 3/4 cup granulated sugar
As much ice as you can fit in the pitcher
Put the tea bags into the pitcher. Pour the hot water on top. Let steep for about 7 to 10 minutes - I usually get distracted and the tea ends up steeping much longer than I intended it to.
Take the tea bags out - don't squeeze them. Well, you can if you want but the theory is that if you squeeze the tea bags the tea will be bitter. I've never actually tried it because I've been too intimidated by the thought of bitter tea ... the power of the collective conscious hard at work.
At any rate -- take the bags out. Add the sugar to the hot water and stir well to make sure the sugar dissolves. Fill the pitcher with ice, and let it sit for about 20 minutes. The hot water will melt enough of the ice to dilute the tea and it will cool down quickly. If you save your tea bags then you can add another cup of hot water to them, add another 1/4 cup sugar and add that back into the first pitcher later in the day if you think it's getting too dilute. I personally haven't had the tea sitting around long enough for that to happen, but in theory it could.
Enjoy!
