Foodies Hot or Cold Water for Instant Iced Tea?

[Kevin]

OK, first, to my friends & family in the Southern US... yes, I know, "instant" iced tea is an abomination that shouldn't exist! In my defense, as much as I do enjoy some real brewed tea, I've been drinking mostly Crystal Light Iced Tea lately to cut down on the calories. I am prone, though, to still drink some sweet tea with BBQ.

So, what about the water when it comes to instant tea? In theory it shouldn't matter whether hot or cold water is used but anecdotally I'm convinced that when making a gallon using 1/4 gallon hot water from the tap, stirring in the mix, and then filling up the rest with cold water from the fridge' filter gives the best taste.

 

[Tom]

when making a gallon using 1/4 gallon hot water from the tap, stirring in the mix, and then filling up the rest with cold water from the fridge' filter

I would think that would give the best result too. Don't really do instant tea tho.
I usually do sun tea. I start out with cool tap water and the sun heats it up hot - then I ice it down with some lemon. I freeze cut up lemon and lime wedges in ice cube trays in the summer.

 

[Salty Vampire]

Hot! It doesn't dissolve as well with cold.

 

[Kevin]

I would think that would give the best result too. Don't really do instant tea tho.

Hot! It doesn't dissolve as well with cold.

OK, so at least I'm not the only one. My rationalizing was along the same lines, that the hot water helps the powder dissolve better.

I usually do sun tea. I start out with cool tap water and the sun heats it up hot - then I ice it down with some lemon. I freeze cut up lemon and lime wedges in ice cube trays in the summer.

Sounds good but you know how PA weather is at this time of year; I'd be waiting a long time for the sun to heat it up! I like the idea of freezing some lemon wedges as I do prefer mine, whether I'm drinking Crystal Light at home or unsweetened tea out, with a wedge or two in it. I'll have to try, would definitely be nice in the summer time.

 

[Salty Vampire]

OK, so at least I'm not the only one. My rationalizing was along the same lines, that the hot water helps the powder dissolve better.

Sounds good but you know how PA weather is at this time of year; I'd be waiting a long time for the sun to heat it up! I like the idea of freezing some lemon wedges as I do prefer mine, whether I'm drinking Crystal Light at home or unsweetened tea out, with a wedge or two in it. I'll have to try, would definitely be nice in the summer time.

I'm in Pittsburgh. If I put sun tea outside the neighborhood brats would either swipe it or use it for target practice. Yes on lemon wedges, always!

 

[Tom]

Down here on the south coast its kinda weird not seeing Ice Cream shops all over the place. You would think there would be good buisness for them but the good money is in Snow Cones. I'm figuring ice cream melts and gets nasty too fast?

Another thing seen in these parts are frozen mango strips for drinks. Peaches harvest like apples do up there. Lots of frozen peach ideas here too - Frozen peach quarters on a stick. Funny how you don't see many frozen chocolate bananas here tho?