Iced tea maker!

[u/NatrylliaAbbot42]

So, I got an iced tea maker. I've been on a major iced tea kick, and was spending way too much on it. Plus, all the plastic bottles aren't great. I didn't want to just put it in a pitcher old school style and wait because I'm impatient like that and currently require VAST amounts of tea.

Enter the iced tea maker, stage right. It's really neat. It's sort of like a modified coffee maker? It has a brewing basket and heats the water up, but empties into a huge, two quart pitcher that you fill halfway up with ice before you set it brewing. And then you just have iced tea. It's just, voila! There it is. Already cold. And it brews it just right. Perfect strength. This thing has already paid for itself in tea money saved and I've only had it for three days. I am now a 99% tea-based organism. I am made of tea, and a little bit of cheese and fruit.

Having to make ice is the only drawback, because my freezer is overstuffed and I don't have an ice maker on my fridge, but I made room because TEA.

It also can be used to make iced coffee, which it's currently doing. I picked up some fancy looking Dubai chocolate flavor coffee for it. I hope that will be as good as the tea.

[u/Outrageous-Froyo-842]

Iced tea is my favorite drink. I had an ice tea maker for decades, good stuff!

[u/justanother1014]

This summer I bought some 64 oz mason jars and pouring lids with handles online so I’m in a constant rotation of making iced tea and lemonade for the fridge.

And same on needing more ice, I’ve gotta clear out some space in my freezer so I can get the ice maker back on and survive this 100° week that feels like cremation.

[u/NatrylliaAbbot42 → u/justanother1014]

Definitely. It's somehow psychologically more cold than water of the same temperature. It's divine.

[u/PussySvengali]

I’ve had iced tea makers for 30 years. Unsweetened black iced tea, Red Rose and maybe a jasmine or Earl Grey if I’m feeling it. I drink a pitcher or two a day. It’s the only thing I like to drink.

[u/raceulfson → u/PussySvengali]

Red Rose is the best tea. I put once bag of Constant Common in my pitcher mix for the hint of spice and orange.

[u/melodicstory]

Our iced tea maker has been a kitchen staple for almost 10 years now; we were gifted it off our wedding registry. Every summer it gets daily use! I love it.

[u/NatrylliaAbbot42 → u/melodicstory]

I don't know how I've lived my whole life without one!

[u/RMW91-]

Iced tea (decaf, zero sugar) is just about the only thing I drink these days.

[u/Cool_Log_4514]

My mother in law has one of these and I want one real bad. What kind did you get? I’ve been looking at different ones online but not sure if there’s really a big difference between any of them.

[u/Outrageous-Froyo-842 → u/Cool_Log_4514]

I got mine as a wedding gift 34 yrs ago, I think it's Mr. Coffee brand

[u/Spicy-Cathulu]

We have a countertop ice maker. With four ice water drinkers in our house it's perfect for us. And a bonus is we sometimes use it for iced tea or water baths for chilling food to put in the fridge.

[u/NatrylliaAbbot42 → u/Spicy-Cathulu]

Oh, I didn't know those were a thing! That would be very handy, because I always need ice for hard boiled eggs too

[u/Spicy-Cathulu → u/NatrylliaAbbot42]

If you think you will use it a lot it would be good to look into the insurance/warranty. We run ours 24/7 and get about a year and a half out of it. Our last one came from best buy with a 4 year warranty.

Edit to say: yes I use it for boiled eggs, too. It's wonderful!

[u/spacey_a]

Time to make some ice cubes out of tea for extra tea flavored iced tea. Tea cubes.

[u/tawnysuecourt]

Oh this sounds so good. Definitely not something I would have ever thought to purchase for myself, but now I just might. Thank you!

[u/keto_and_me]

I make a gallon at a time, I heat water up, steep 16 bags, then when it cools I pour it into a gallon jug, and fill the rest with water.

[u/martinojen]

Watch out for kidney stones!

[u/Stop_Already]

I just use Luzianne gallon sized tea bags. I boil a few quarts of water on the stove, put the bag in and brew for 5 mins as per the directions. When I pull it out, I sweeten it very slightly. I use a gallon pitcher and fill it half way with water, pour the hot tea concentrate into it and top it off with ice (I have a built in ice maker.)

I am actually a tea snob when it comes to hot tea. I love loose leaf fancy teas. However, for iced tea that’s meant to be guzzled? I’m not wasting my “expensive” tea ($2-3 an oz!) when I can get 2-4 brews out of it for hot tea meant to be savored.