Iced tea , also known as ice tea , is a form of cold tea, often served in a glass with ice. It may or may not be sweetened. Iced tea is also a popular packaged drink. It can be mixed with flavored syrup, with common flavors including lemon, peach, raspberry, lime, and cherry. While most iced teas get their flavor from tea leaves (Camellia sinensis) , other herb-infused beverages are also sometimes served cold and referred to as iced tea. Unsweetened iced tea is sometimes made by a particularly long steeping of tea leaves at lower temperature (one hour in the sun versus 5 minutes at 80-100°C). Some people call this "sun tea". In addition, sometimes it is also left to stand overnight in the refrigerator.
Cultural variations
Austria
Iced tea is very popular in Austria, though the common name is ice tea instead of iced tea . The Austrian "Rauch" Corporation is one of the most popular manufacturers.
Belgium and The Netherlands
In Belgium, Netherlands and various other parts of Europe, "Ice Tea" is the brand name of a carbonated variety of iced tea marketed by Lipton since 1978. They also market a number of other non-carbonated iced teas under the "Ice Tea" brand. Other companies have followed suit but use variations on the name.
Canada
In Canada, iced tea refers to sweetened iced tea, usually flavoured with lemon. In most provinces, unsweetened iced tea is almost unheard of. This tea is made at home from drink powder or obtained in cans or bottles. Water, sugar and flavourings may exceed tea in terms of quantity in these drinks. Sweetened Green teas and those flavoured with raspberry, peach, or pomegranate are also becoming more common via marketing efforts. Sweetened iced tea is often served as an alternative to other soft drinks, prepared by companies like Lipton, Arizona, Good Host and Nestea, although fresh-brewed iced tea is becoming somewhat popular, particularly in smaller independently-owned restaurants. Powdered or frozen iced tea is a common preparation at home, due to its ease of use.
China
Although not a traditional way to serve tea, iced tea gained wide spread popularity in even rural areas since the 80's with canned or bottled tea. Many varieties of tea, including green tea, are available packaged and sold in stores. Many families make their own iced tea by either putting lots of ice in a small amount of strong hot tea or by putting hot tea in a fridge for some time. Common types of iced tea are black, green, oolong, and lots of herbal types as well. Iced herbal tea is especially popular in the hot summers, where "yin" or cooling herbs are used to make tea such as chrysanthemum, kuding tea, etc. Cooled tea but still warm was already popular throughout ancient times but tea at cold temperatures was not as popular then.
Germany
Nestea and Lipton are the most popular brands and lemon- and peach-flavored iced teas are the most popular variants. Lipton offers a number of non-carbonated iced teas under the "Ice Tea" brand and the carbonated variety under the brand "Ice Tea Sparkling". Iced tea is also available in many restaurants. Unsweetened iced tea is very rare. Instant teas are available that can be used to prepare iced tea with cold water.
Hong Kong
Iced lemon tea (not to be confused with lemon iced tea) is always available at Hong Kong restaurants. A strong black tea (e.g. Ceylon) is brewed at length in a metal pot over a burner, and prepared as follows: a large glass is filled with ice, a scoop of simple syrup is added (if desired), and the glass is filled to the top with hot tea. Slices of lemon are placed atop the mixture, which are then muddled into the tea by the customer, ensuring that the floral volatile oils present in the lemon peel are at their peak when consumed.
In dessert parlors (such as "Quickly"), iced green tea is often available (usually flavored with jasmine blossoms), both with and without tapioca pearls, as is Hong Kong milk tea (usually served warm in cafes, but poured over ice when served with tapioca, creating a very creamy iced tea).
Indonesia
Iced tea is a popular drink in Indonesia. It is served in a vast majority of foodservice businesses, ranging from street hawkers and traditional food corners to restaurants. Iced tea is sweetened; it is known as "es teh manis" and is served with a meal. Bottled brands include Sosro and Lipton.
Italy
Iced tea is a popular drink in Italy and is widely available, generally only in lemon- and peach-flavored incarnations. San Benedetto, as well as Lipton, are well-known brands. Apple is another favorite national flavour of tea.
Japan
Japan is one of the most important iced tea markets in the world and iced tea in bottles and cans is a common sight in the country's ubiquitous vending machines. Japanese iced tea products mirror the market for hot tea in the sense that they are mostly green tea and oolong products, usually unflavoured and mostly unsweetened. Suntory, Kirin, and the Coca-Cola Company are some of the largest producers. Lipton, the world's largest tea brand, offers a range of iced tea products based on black tea through joint ventures with two local partners, Suntory and Morinaga.
It is Japanese-style products rather than the Western-style products that are penetrating the markets of East Asia. Several Japanese companies have also started exporting their products to Europe and North America, in particular Ito En, which markets a whole range of Japanese-style unsweetened green and oolong teas in the USA.
Malaysia
Iced Tea is very popular in Malaysia and is sold in most restaurants and grocery stores. The two most common types of tea are plain Chinese Iced Tea (teh ais) and Iced Lemon Tea (teh ais limau). Both varieties can be bought at most coffee shops and are both usually made by the outlet, though Iced Lemon Tea is also readily available at grocery stores in a canned form. Popular brands of Iced Lemon Tea are Lipton, Nestea, and F&N Seasons. Despite the name, coffee shops usually serve Ice Lemon Tea with a lime rather than a lemon. This is probably because locally grown lime is cheaper than imported lemons, and it provides a similar citrus flavour.
Philippines
Similar to the USA, iced tea is served in many bars and restaurants, grocery stores and fast food outlets as an alternative to carbonated soft drinks. In most areas,the Nestea brand is the most popular. It is also available in powdered form as well as in cans and bottles. Iced tea in the Philippines is almost always sweet, with a slight lemon flavor.
Switzerland
A company from the Swiss Alps has made its own herbal iced tea. This herbal iced tea is made from black tea, sugar, lemon juice and mint, melissa officinalis, verbena, chamomile, stinging nettle, lady's mantle. Another famous Swiss Ice Tea is Nestea, produced by the Swiss Brand Nestlé. It's available in classic flavours like Lemon and Peach, but also exotic ones like Hibiscus and Pineapple.
Taiwan
Bubble tea is usually a strong black tea, sweetened with sugar and condensed milk. It is served cold usually with tapioca pearls. There are many variations of it, with different types of teas; fruit-flavored bubble teas are popular as well. Sometimes pudding, jelly, or chunks of fruit are put into it instead of tapioca pearls.
Thailand
Thai iced tea or "cha-yen" (Thai: ชาเย็น ) in Thailand is a drink made from strongly-brewed black tea ("red tea" in East Asia). Other ingredients may include added orange blossom water, star anise, crushed tamarind seed or red and yellow food coloring, and sometimes other spices as well. This tea is sweetened with sugar and condensed milk and served chilled. Evaporated milk, coconut milk or whole milk is generally poured over the tea and ice before serving to add taste and creamy appearance. However, in Thailand, condensed milk and sugar are mixed with the tea before it is poured over ice and then topped with evaporated milk. In Thai restaurants worldwide, it is served in a tall glass, though in Thailand it is more typically poured over the crushed ice in a clear (or translucent) plastic bag. It can also be made into a frappé at more westernised vendors.
It is popular in many American restaurants that serve Thai food. Although Thai tea is not the same as bubble tea, a Southeast and East Asian beverage that contains large tapioca pearls, Thai tea with tapioca pearls is a popular flavor of bubble tea.
Additional variations include:
- Dark Thai iced tea (Thai: ชาดำเย็น, cha-dam-yen): Thai tea served chilled with no milk conte
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