Well, summer is around the corner, and heat is begining to build up. On a hot day, there is nothing like a cold glass of iced tea. Traditionally, most American families get a container of “iced tea mix” and use it to make the iced tea. Its very convenient to put a spoon full of iced tea mix in the water and presto you have iced tea.

But a couple years ago news reports started filtering in about the high levels of fluoride in instant iced tea mixes, and we wrote a small blog article about the problems associated with high fluoride content in our body. (click here to read that article). The alternative of course is to make iced tea with regular tea. And thats what this article is about.

Making iced tea:
Making iced tea with regular leaf tea is not at all difficult, and in fact can be accomplished wihin 5 to 10 minutes. Simply follow the formula below:

• In a five cup tea pot, add five tea spoons of regular leaf tea.
• Let the water come to a boil in a kettle and pour it on the tea in the tea pot.
• Allow tea to steep for 5 to 7 minutes. (Yes, even for Darjeelings, I recommend 5 to 7 minutes.)
• Strain the tea into a large pitcher, and add 5 tea spoons of sugar to it. Stir the tea and allow the sugar to dissolve. You can easily substitute sugar with honey or maple syrup if you like.
• Add two tea pots of chilled water to the tea, mix well, and allow to chill for 10-20 minutes.

Your iced tea is ready! Serve chilled over ice on a hot day, and your family will thank you for making such a delicious beverage! If you like, you may garnish the tea with a sprig of mint leaf, or lemon wedge.

To discuss this, go to the discussion forum.

From Tea & Coffee …

As many of you know, Jaya Teas participates in many summer festivals and fairs. Its one way we can meet our customers face to face and show them our appreciation. This year, our first such engagement was the New York Tea and Coffee Festival. Beautiful Christine Rillo from Adagio was visiting the festival with her friend Carin, looking to learn about teas. Christine just recently joined the Adagio and is contributing on their website. If you are interested in hearing her views, click here to go to Tea Muse The official Adagio Newsletter for tea afficianados. Good luck to you Christine, in your new career. Your prose writing is indeed very fine, and it was a pleasure to make you, and Carin’s acquaintances.
The second festival we participated in was the Blues & Wine Festival held at Four Sisters Winery, in Belvedere, New Jersey. We enjoyed serving some of our best teas for tea tasting to the wine connoisseurs, and listening to the blues music.

When we participate in these fairs, usually all hands are on deck - in that - every family member is asked to contribute! Its a nice way to spend the weekend together, while helping each other out. So, you will see little Jaya also contributing in these festivals, as is Sunil! Some times Sunil’s friends also chip in as Scott Hoyt did on this ocassion.

From Four Sisters …