Market Tea

Canterbury Community Farmers Market Iced Tea 

Every week, Market goers can enjoy a cuppa Market Tea at the Info tent. Here's how you can enjoy it at home, or make it for a special occasion! This recipe makes enough to fill two 2-gallon insulated drink containers... you can scale it down (or up).

INGREDIENTS

·      2-3 boxes of tea (40 tea bags). The brand we use is Celestial Seasoning or Bigalow herb teas.

·      1-2 box the same or complimentary tea flavor to make “Tea ICE”***

·      2 cartons/bottles of pre-made natural citrus beverage **

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DIRECTIONS FOR TEA “ICE”:

Steep... 

·      8 teabags in

·      8 cups boiling water for 

·      11 minutes

·      Do this 2-3 times

The day before (or longer) make either the same or a complementary flavor*** tea and FREEZE in 2 cup plastic storage containers with screw on lids to make “Tea ICE.” You can get 2-cup round plastic storage containers with screw top lids at Market Basket. The Tea ICE keeps the iced tea cold but does not dilute it! This is the real secret to Farmers Market Iced Tea  The tea ICE blocks pop out of their containers easily if you run them briefly under warm water.

DIRECTIONS FOR TEA:

Steep... 

·      8 teabags in

·      8 cups boiling water for 

·      11 minutes

·      Do this 5 times

·      Chill tea in fridge overnight or pour into big shallow bowls in front of a fan for a quick cool down.

·      For a two-gallon insulated container pour in half the tea and 4 Tea ICE blocks. Do the same with the second insulated cooler.

·      Add 1 bottle (1.5 liter) of natural citrus drink, like Paul Newman's or Simply Lemonade ** to each cooler. This adds all the sugar you would ever need but does not make the tea too sweet. Fill containers the rest of the way with cool tea.

·      Chilled Tea and Tea ICE can easily be put in drink coolers 2-3 hours before the event.

·      Cover the top of ugly drink coolers with pretty fabric and a cute sign to say what flavor tea. 

NOTE:

You can freeze any leftover tea to make new Tea ICE. Since most of the flavors are fruity/herby they all pretty much go together. This is why there are sometimes unusual flavor combos! I tend to stay away from the “spicy” teas with cinnamon, etc. as they seem more Autumn-ish, though apple cider makes great Tea ICE!

**Market Basket carries several nice brands of natural lemonade in the cooler by the OJ. I have also found that adding a big bottle of chilled ginger ale gives the tea a pleasant “fizz”.

***For example, Lemon Zinger Tea with Raspberry Tea ICE, or the reverse. 

Enjoy and stay cool ! :-)