From Jar to Joy: A Method for Brewing Iced Tea
Afterglow is a beautiful tea, fostering a feeling of lightness and a positive spirit. It's a favorite among both children and adults, making it my go-to beverage when entertaining a mixed crowd. I often brew this blend into gallons of iced tea the night before, storing it in the refrigerator until I'm ready to serve it the next day.
Today, I'll guide you through my method for preparing Afterglow for events, parties, and everyday enjoyment at home.
For events or larger families, investing in a couple of 1/2 gallon mason jars is a worthwhile kitchen addition.
Always ensure your mason jar is sterilized. This crucial step eliminates potential contaminants and prolongs the shelf life of your brewed tea. This method lasts around 2-3 days in the refrigerator.
To brew a 1/2 gallon of Afterglow, add 8 tablespoons of the loose leaf tea to the jar. Alternatively, you can use pre-filled tea bags designed for this blend.
Preparing tea with intention always helps me to get prepared for a big day or week ahead , so this is the perfect time to set the tone.
Some of my intentions while preparing Afterglow for a group might sound like:
"This is going to be a great day."
"This tea brings joy and laughter."
"Every sip brings happiness."
"I am inviting fun and playful moments."
As you focus on your intentions, slowly pour 7 cups of near-boiling filtered water (approximately 205 degrees Fahrenheit) into the jar. Very loosely cover the jar with a lid. Allow the tea to steep until it reaches room temperature, which will take several hours. You can sweeten at this point but be aware that sweetened tea has a shorter lifespan than unsweetened tea. Once cooled, strain the flowers using a sieve or remove the pre-filled bags.
Refrigerate the tea until it's thoroughly chilled. Once cold, it's ready to be served and enjoyed!
This brewing method ensures you extract the maximum medicinal properties from the herbs.
You can adapt this technique to make iced tea with any Charis tea blend.