I want to start making my own tea cause all the stuff you buy pre-made
is doctored up with high fructose corn syrup and such.

Does anyone have a Mr Coffee Ice Tea maker?

If yes does it work well?

Or can i just get a god stainless steel tea pot and make it that way
just as easy?

> wrote in message
...
> I want to start making my own tea cause all the stuff you buy pre-made
> is doctored up with high fructose corn syrup and such.
>
> Does anyone have a Mr Coffee Ice Tea maker?
>
> If yes does it work well?
>
> Or can i just get a god stainless steel tea pot and make it that way
> just as easy?

A gadget like that is a waste of money. Heck, you don;t even need a tea
kettle - just some way to boil water. I make iced tea in a 1 quart Pyrex
measurug cup. Pour boiling water over 2 teabags (Red Rose is the best of the
widely available brands) and let steep for 5 minutes. Remove bags and let
cool. If desired add sugar at this point.


--
Peter Aitken

Remove the crap from my email address before using.

My wife got one. Someone at work got her on the kick that tea made in
the sun had bacteria. I tried dissuation on the issue of whether the
tea was covered or not to no avail. Anyway the one we have works fine.
The recommendation it had of using 5-7 teabags seems on the high side
but 4-5 makes tea to my liking. It is very good on making iced tea
ready to drink in just a couple of minutes. I would agree that its
just another thing to put on the shelf and you could just brew the tea
and pour it into ice in a pitcher.

On Wed, 02 Jun 2004 11:15:13 -0500, wrote:

>I want to start making my own tea cause all the stuff you buy pre-made
>is doctored up with high fructose corn syrup and such.
>
>Does anyone have a Mr Coffee Ice Tea maker?
>
>If yes does it work well?
>
>Or can i just get a god stainless steel tea pot and make it that way
>just as easy?

>A gadget like that is a waste of money. Heck, you don;t even need a tea
>kettle - just some way to boil water. I make iced tea in a 1 quart Pyrex
>measurug cup. Pour boiling water over 2 teabags (Red Rose is the best of the
>widely available brands) and let steep for 5 minutes. Remove bags and let
>cool. If desired add sugar at this point.

OK... well that's the info I need so thanks!

I figure they might be a waste of money........... but Im really not
much of a "cook" so don't know

But...is there any merit to getting a teapot for the boiling part? Or
can one just use a 3 qt sauce pan?

Far as I can tell, someone wrote:
>Does anyone have a Mr Coffee Ice Tea maker?

Bought one. Returned it.

In article >,
wrote:

> >A gadget like that is a waste of money. Heck, you don;t even need a tea
> >kettle - just some way to boil water. I make iced tea in a 1 quart Pyrex
> >measurug cup. Pour boiling water over 2 teabags (Red Rose is the best of the
> >widely available brands) and let steep for 5 minutes. Remove bags and let
> >cool. If desired add sugar at this point.
>
> OK... well that's the info I need so thanks!
>
> I figure they might be a waste of money........... but Im really not
> much of a "cook" so don't know
>
> But...is there any merit to getting a teapot for the boiling part? Or
> can one just use a 3 qt sauce pan?

Use a saucepan. I've done so for years. Get the water boiling, throw
in the teabags, then take the pan off the burner and steep a while.
Make sure the saucepan is made of nonreactive material. The one I use
for iced tea is a Revere ware pan I've had for almost 25 years.

If you live in the southern US, Luzianne is an excellent brand of
teabags for iced tea. It doesn't get overly bitter or cloudy. Luzianne
also has family size teabags. Each one will brew a quart of tea. Alas,
Seattle doesn't have a store that sells Luziannes, so I have to slum and
use other brands.

Cindy

--
C.J. Fuller

Delete the obvious to email me

In article >,
says...
> I want to start making my own tea cause all the stuff you buy pre-made
> is doctored up with high fructose corn syrup and such.
>
> Does anyone have a Mr Coffee Ice Tea maker?
>
> If yes does it work well?
>
> Or can i just get a god stainless steel tea pot and make it that way
> just as easy?
>
I just put the tea into a large pitcher and add water. It goes into the
fridge for about 24 hours. I then dump out the leaves or bags and have
iced tea. I make it extra strong, so I dilute it with water when I want
to use it. I always keep simple syrup around for sweetening it or
lemonade.

--
Jerry Bank
Trenton, New Jersey
Music is the language of the gods.

>I just put the tea into a large pitcher and add water. It goes into the
>fridge for about 24 hours. I then dump out the leaves or bags and have
>iced tea. I make it extra strong, so I dilute it with water when I want
>to use it. I always keep simple syrup around for sweetening it or
>lemonade.

So there really is no need to boil it or steep it then?

I can make it "cold"? Using any type of tea bag?

Im supposed to avoid caffeine as ordered by my doctor....so thinking
abt using caffeine free tea bags.... just FYI

> I always keep simple syrup around for sweetening it or
>lemonade.

What is "simple syrup"?

In article >,
says...
> >I just put the tea into a large pitcher and add water. It goes into the
> >fridge for about 24 hours. I then dump out the leaves or bags and have
> >iced tea. I make it extra strong, so I dilute it with water when I want
> >to use it. I always keep simple syrup around for sweetening it or
> >lemonade.
>
> So there really is no need to boil it or steep it then?
>
> I can make it "cold"? Using any type of tea bag?
>
> Im supposed to avoid caffeine as ordered by my doctor....so thinking
> abt using caffeine free tea bags.... just FYI
>

I use my Mr. Iced Tea about every other day all year. I got it at a yard
sale for $2. When it dies, I'll get another one at another yard sale.
The $2 is worth the convenience to me.

> wrote in message
news
> >I just put the tea into a large pitcher and add water. It goes into the
> >fridge for about 24 hours. I then dump out the leaves or bags and have
> >iced tea. I make it extra strong, so I dilute it with water when I want
> >to use it. I always keep simple syrup around for sweetening it or
> >lemonade.
>
> So there really is no need to boil it or steep it then?
>
> I can make it "cold"? Using any type of tea bag?
>
> Im supposed to avoid caffeine as ordered by my doctor....so thinking
> abt using caffeine free tea bags.... just FYI

If you want the best tea, do not use the technique of soaking tea bags for
long periods at room temperature. This results in a brown liquid with a
vague tea flavor. It has been known for a long time by hot tea fans that the
best tea requires the contact of actively boiling water with the tea leaves.
The same applies to iced tea. Pour rapidy boiling water over the bags or
leaves and let steep for 5 minutes. I use 1 quart water for 2 bags.By far
the best way. As for your need to avoid caffeine, I have found that Red Rose
decaf tea is better than the other brands.

--
Peter Aitken

Remove the crap from my email address before using.

> wrote in message
...
> > I always keep simple syrup around for sweetening it or
> >lemonade.
>
> What is "simple syrup"?

I believe it is just a lot of sugar dissolved in water.


--
Peter Aitken

Remove the crap from my email address before using.

In article >,
> wrote:
>> I always keep simple syrup around for sweetening it or
>>lemonade.
>
>What is "simple syrup"?

Equal parts sugar and water, boiled to dissolve the sugar, then cooled
to room temperature.


Chuck Demas

--
Eat Healthy | _ _ | Nothing would be done at all,
Stay Fit | @ @ | If a man waited to do it so well,
Die Anyway | v | That no one could find fault with it.
| \___/ | http://world.std.com/~cpd

>I use my Mr. Iced Tea about every other day all year. I got it at a yard
>sale for $2. When it dies, I'll get another one at another yard sale.
>The $2 is worth the convenience to me.

OK

But I guess my question is:

How is a Mr tea more "convenient" than traditional methods of brewing?

Serious question OK?

>>What is "simple syrup"?
>
>http://www.google.com/search?q=simple%20syrup

Wo.w..... learn something everyday!

Thanks!

In article >,
says...
> >I use my Mr. Iced Tea about every other day all year. I got it at a yard
> >sale for $2. When it dies, I'll get another one at another yard sale.
> >The $2 is worth the convenience to me.
>
> OK
>
> But I guess my question is:
>
> How is a Mr tea more "convenient" than traditional methods of brewing?
>
> Serious question OK?
>
Ok.

I put the water in the tea maker. Put ice in the pitcher. Put tebags in
the steeper. Hit the button. Wander off for 10 minutes. Come back, hit
latch to drain steeper. Throw away teabags.

Pour cold iced tea.

Stick pitcher in fridge.

When I want iced tea, I want it NOW. I don't want to steep it in the
fridge overnight or sit it out in a jar in the sun for the afternoon. I
could mess with a saucepan and teabags, but that's another dish and some
guesstimating at the amount of tea+water+ice to add for the right
strength.

So I'm lazy. Mr. Iced Tea works for me.

wrote:
>> I use my Mr. Iced Tea about every other day all year. I got it at a
>> yard sale for $2. When it dies, I'll get another one at another
>> yard sale. The $2 is worth the convenience to me.
>
> OK
>
> But I guess my question is:
>
> How is a Mr tea more "convenient" than traditional methods of brewing?
>
> Serious question OK?

I got one as a gift. Figured it was just another gadget, but it does work
and it is easy. Yo don't have to watch for hte water to boil, don't have to
worry about timing. It has a convenient pitcher for storing and serving. It
is consisteant every time. Not something you "need" but I find it handy. --
Ed

http://pages.cthome.net/edhome

Peter Aitken > wrote:

>...Pour rapidy boiling water over the bags or
> leaves and let steep for 5 minutes. I use 1 quart water for 2 bags.

This is similar to what I do, but I'm a bit lazier. I'll use the same
proportions, usually one bag with a pint of hot water from the filtered
190-degree dispenser. Five minutes later I pour it over ice. This also
minimizes leftover tea.

I used to make sun-tea but didn't like how it looked after being stored
in the fridge for several days...

--
- rick http://www.cfcl.com/~rick/
Rick Auricchio Macs Only: Macintosh support
I acknowledge the existence of a higher power, and have therefore installed
surge suppressors.

On 2004-06-02, > wrote:
> Does anyone have a Mr Coffee Ice Tea maker?
> If yes does it work well?
> Or can i just get a god stainless steel tea pot and make it that way
> just as easy?

Is one necessary, no.

For the last several years I've made my summer iced tea by heating
water on the stove, placing it in a pyrex cup to steap, then placing
it a pitcher with ice to go in the fridge. Gads, iced tea _must_ be
boiled to make a good tea -- sun tea and pure refidgerator tea are
just awful.

However, a couple of months ago I went ahead and bought Mr. Coffee's
latest version of the iced tea maker at Target for $17 (they have
changed recently). There is something to be said about loading it up,
pressing the button, and comming back to good brewed tea on your
coutertop. The new model doesn't require you to "drain" the basket
like the older ones did, and you can adjust the flow rate out of the
brewing basket for stronger or weaker tea. Each batch is consistent,
unlike doing it by hand where the taste may vary by how long it
steeped.

Can you make good tea by hand? Sure. But when I go through as much
tea as I drink durring the summer, it's a handy gadget to have around
for $17.

--Lance

"Peter Aitken" > wrote
>
> A gadget like that is a waste of money.

I agree. Not only a waste of money, but where do you store all this
stuff? I looked at an ice cream maker today for 3 seconds and the
storage problem made up my mind. Ditto for that cumbersome looking
lid opener from B and D.

I like my counters to resemble a wasteland.

$10 at a local Wally Mart - marked down closeout. Not as good a old
fashioned boiled water over institutional sized tea bags or loose tea, but
OK and reasonably quick and convenient.

> wrote in message
...
>I want to start making my own tea cause all the stuff you buy pre-made
> is doctored up with high fructose corn syrup and such.
>
> Does anyone have a Mr Coffee Ice Tea maker?
>
> If yes does it work well?
>
> Or can i just get a god stainless steel tea pot and make it that way
> just as easy?

In article >,
val189 > wrote:
>"Peter Aitken" > wrote
>>
>> A gadget like that is a waste of money.
>
>I agree. Not only a waste of money, but where do you store all this
>stuff?

In the "gadget room" next to the kitchen.

Every foodie's house should have one. :-)

That's where all the canning, sausage making, mixers, macaroni makers,
specialty service items, etc get stored. It also has room for
beermaking and wine making equipment, and storage space for the stuff
you really want, but don't have room for, like reams of parchment
paper, etc.


Chuck Demas

--
Eat Healthy | _ _ | Nothing would be done at all,
Stay Fit | @ @ | If a man waited to do it so well,
Die Anyway | v | That no one could find fault with it.
| \___/ | http://world.std.com/~cpd

Rick Auricchio > wrote in news:030620042150105699%
:

> Peter Aitken > wrote:
>
>>...Pour rapidy boiling water over the bags or
>> leaves and let steep for 5 minutes. I use 1 quart water for 2 bags.
>
> This is similar to what I do, but I'm a bit lazier. I'll use the same
> proportions, usually one bag with a pint of hot water from the filtered
> 190-degree dispenser. Five minutes later I pour it over ice. This also
> minimizes leftover tea.
>
> I used to make sun-tea but didn't like how it looked after being stored
> in the fridge for several days...
>

Hmmm, leftover tea. Reminds me of something my aunt told me she heard,
that leftover tea can lead to cancer. After she heard that, any tea that
was left at the end of the day was tossed.

I never put any stock in it, but I didn't research it either.

--
Wayne in Phoenix

Big on natural foods?? 82.38% of people die of "natural" causes.

(Charles Demas) wrote:

> In article >,
> val189 > wrote:
> >"Peter Aitken" > wrote
> >>
> >> A gadget like that is a waste of money.
> >
> >I agree. Not only a waste of money, but where do you store all this
> >stuff?
>
> In the "gadget room" next to the kitchen.
>
> Every foodie's house should have one. :-)
>
> That's where all the canning, sausage making, mixers, macaroni makers,
> specialty service items, etc get stored. It also has room for
> beermaking and wine making equipment, and storage space for the stuff
> you really want, but don't have room for, like reams of parchment
> paper, etc.

:-)

I'm not big on gadgets anymore; got over that a decade or so ago. Like
with cookbooks - is there anything in it I don't know *and* want to
make? It's not easy walking down the Cookbook aisle at Atlantic
(discount) Book Warehouse, but somehow I manage.

When I look at something I check my mental inventory - do I already have
something that'll work with that? (Which reminds me, it's time to plan
the unloading of cookie cutters.) I have a Donvier ice cream thing, the
one quart size. I like it, because for the handful of times a year we
make ice cream or fresh fruit sorbet, the cylinder's in the deep freeze
and ready. So that, a Cuisineart, a Cuisineart pasta attachment (yard
sale, rather cool how it works) an Atlas, a juice extractor (thrift
shop), pots and pans, coffee grinder, espresso perk pot, Hot Shot, ...
everything else fits in a drawer or two.

Gadgets are fun to look at and consider. Not into buyin' 'em anymore.

In article >,
(Charles Demas) wrote:

> In article >,
> val189 > wrote:
> >"Peter Aitken" > wrote
> >>
> >> A gadget like that is a waste of money.
> >
> >I agree. Not only a waste of money, but where do you store all this
> >stuff?
>
> In the "gadget room" next to the kitchen.
>
> Every foodie's house should have one. :-)
>
> That's where all the canning, sausage making, mixers, macaroni makers,
> specialty service items, etc get stored. It also has room for
> beermaking and wine making equipment, and storage space for the stuff
> you really want, but don't have room for, like reams of parchment
> paper, etc.
>
>
My grandparents' house had a full-blown pantry on the way to the
basement stairs. This is where Grandma had her mixer, pickle crocks,
and canning jars. (She died in 1962, so she didn't have many electronic
toys.) It also had a HUGE chest freezer. You could have frozen several
intact sides of beef in it. Unfortunately, most houses these days don't
have much in the way of practical storage unless you custom build or
remodel.

Cindy

--
C.J. Fuller

Delete the obvious to email me