<p>I don’t drink coffee, but love iced tea, unsweetened. I use it to replace some of the Coke I am in the habit of drinking in the morning - horrible habit, I know, but I’m addicted. When I make iced tea myself, it is bitter. When I buy it from Dunkin Donuts, it is bitter but better than mine. The really wonderful iced tea is Trader Joe’s huge jugs of unsweetened black tea. It has not a trace of bitterness, but they don’t always have it now, they seem to have replaced it with huge jugs of “sweet tea” - ugh! </p>
<p>I should make it myself to save money and to always have a supply. I am sure that within an hour someone will post directions to make great iced tea! Thank you in advance.</p>
<p>I just put about 4 Lipton or generic teabags with the tags snipped into a 4 cup pyrex cup. I then add the very hot, but not quite boiling water. Cover for a few minutes and then pour it over a pitcher full of ice. Voila, fresh iced tea in a matter of minutes.</p>
<p>I have a Mr. Coffee iced tea maker that works wonderfully. You fill the pitcher with ice and then hot tea is filtered- ice cools it immediately so it’s ready to drink. Holds pretty well too. No bitterness whatsoever. You can also buy tea bags specifically for iced tea- that sometimes help as well.
Same idea as ctpofthehouse- I just need a gadget to do it!</p>
<p>I looked at the mr. coffee iced tea makers and they have four models. Does it make much difference which model to chose or are they essentially the same and it is a matter of preference?</p>
<p>I have the Mr. Coffee iced tea maker as well, and I use 7 tea bags at a time (it makes 1.5 gallons). I like it really strong though, so I let it steep for a while before I drain the top part.</p>
<p>If your tea is too bitter you are probably letting it steep too long. Try using more tea bags for less time. Another trick I do sometimes is I will put a tablespoon of sugar in the pitcher, just to take the edge off a little bit. It’s a trivial amount of sugar compared to soda, and it’s not as bad for you as corn syrup either.</p>
<p>It’s a lower end one, but it works fine for me. I like the larger size, because I drink a lot of iced tea - 1.5 gallons lasts me only 2 or 3 days.</p>
<p>I looked on Amazon for the iced tea maker, and found that the Hamilton Beach model has almost 250 enthusiastic customer reviews. I may try that one, since there is the option of using loose tea rather than bags. </p>
<p>You ABSOLUTELY do NOT need an iced tea maker gadget. There are so many ways to make iced tea without bitterness. I use a 1/2 gallon glass pitcher filled with water. Put 4-6 tea bags in (add 1 or 2 peppermint tea bags for a treat). Then stick it in the refrigerator overnight. Remove the teabags in the morning. </p>
<p>If I’m in a hurry, I put 2 cups of water in a pyrex measuring cup, add my tea bags and microwave for 2-3 minutes. Let it steep for about 5 minutes and then pour into the 1/2 gallon pitcher of ice water and ice.</p>
<p>I’ve enjoyed the instant gratification of cold brewed iced tea. It only takes five minutes using cold water. I like Twinings “English Classic” better than Lipton, but both are good. You can get them at most markets, at least in Los Angeles, but Amazon’s price is a lot better.</p>
<p>I grew up in the southwest drinking “sun tea” - cold water and tea bags steeping in a glass jug on a sunny porch for the afternoon. Strongest tea ever and not bitter.</p>
<p>Most parts of the country probably don’t rival the sun/heat necessary for this and I myself usually brew tea on the countertop with water just below boiling.</p>
<p>To make the best tea don’t let the water boil, stop it just before. Heat in a hot water pot, not the microwave and use bottled water not tap water. Don’t let the tea steep too long - this is where Starbucks goes wrong in their tea preparation, they leave the tea bags in the cup and if you don’t remove it almost immediately after purchase the tea is very bitter.</p>
<p>I’m not from the “quick cool” method. I brew tea with boiling water (3 bags for my average size teapot) and let it stand until cooled. Then I refrigerate. Doesn’t turn out bitter. Maybe because I am using less tea then might be used for hot tea…but let it steep longer.</p>
<p>If you dont’ need the caffine, many herbal teas are less “bitter”. Some are called “summer teas” and turn out very nice when cooled.</p>
<p>I like herbal ice tea. My current favorite is a mix of blueberry and raspberry. I heat water in a pot, pour it over a few bags, let it steep for about 5 minutes, and then pour over ice. I can’t see spending the money for a tea maker.</p>
<p>I’ve had my iced tea pot forever and it’s been worth every penny. Quick results without a lot of fuss. I found with sun tea I did not care for the flavor and I thought there were some concerns over contamination? Or bacteria? Am I imagining this? I have the same pot as notrichenough and like the large size as well.</p>
<p>I bring water to an almost boil in a tea kettle. Put in one family size decaff. tea bag (never did like having to deal with multiple tiny bags). Let it steep for about 10 minutes or so. Then pour it into a gallon size pitcher and add water to taste (less water if you like dark strong tea, more water if you like it weaker.</p>
<p>Our refrig. is never without a pitcher of tea.</p>
<p>I like Sun tea.
You can buy a big jug with a spigot that is made for the tea- just put 4 or 5 tea bags in a 2 qt container and sit in the sun for 3 to 5 hours. It is a much mellower flavor than when you use hot water.</p>
<p>Bacteria does like the temp sun tea sits at- but after washing out the container with hot water, I have never had any problem</p>
<p>I am so lazy. I make a big jug of iced tea almost every day in the summer. I fill the jug with water and add a few good tea bags (my favorites are the orange-spice ones). Then I put it in the refrigerator in the evening. By the next morning, it’s tea and I don’t have to do anything.</p>
<p>Alternatively, if I need more than that or I’ve run out early, I put one tea bag with two cups of boiling water, wait five minutes, and pour it over two tall iced-tea glasses filled with ice.</p>
<p>I’m a southerner and drink iced tea throughout the day. I also use an iced tea maker. Lipton family sized tea bags work well (use 1); however, the absolute BEST tea, IMHO, is the kind the use at Starbucks: Tazo Black Iced Tea. It’s often hard to find. Do not get plain Tazo black tea – it’s not quite as good as the Tazo designed specifically for iced tea. You’ll use 1 bag in your tea machine. I also add enough water after it has finished brewing to fill the pitcher and then stir well.</p>