Iced Tea - A summer sensation |
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It's getting to be that time of year when you don't want to do anything that will heat up your kitchen, especially turn on the oven or a burner on the stove! So, you know what that means. Everything possible will be prepared outside on the grill, and everyone is going to drink either sun tea or water - and love it. I fondly remember making sun tea as a preteen back in the 70s. I can still see the gallon glass pickle jar that had been carefully washed and dried to remove any scent of pickle juice. It held an amber liquid as it sat in the bright sunshine on top of our fence made from boulders. Everyone was making sun tea - it was the latest thing that summer! It was my job to find the best spot for the jar. A lot depended on the time of day it was. The jar had to receive direct sunlight in order for the tea to brew, and the fence was usually the best place. The way we made sun tea back then was to use leaves or bags, the pickle jar complete with lid, about a cup of sugar, and of course, water. We would put the water and sugar into the sugar into the pickle jar first, then add the bags. I would always make sure that the strings attached to the bags were hanging over the top of the pickle jar so I could screw the lid down over them. This kept the bags from falling into the jar. We'd let the sun tea brew for about two hours, and then enjoy it iced at dinner time. We never worried about drinking our iced sun tea back then. But, times have changed, and it has been discovered that there can be bacteria in sun tea, in particular a type of bacteria called alcaligenes viscolactis. It seems that this bacterium is in the water. When the jar of sun tea sits in the sun for a couple of hours, the bacteria can grow. The heat of the sun may be enough to brew, but it is not hot enough to kill bacteria. Scientists who have studied this bacteria phenomenon in sun tea have found that the caffeine that is naturally found in some teas can keep the bacteria from growing, but only for a couple of hours. If you prepare sun tea using herbal leaves, or a decaffeinated black, you have inadvertently chosen two types that are splendid for growing bacteria! What could this bacteria do to you and your family? It is said that alcaligenes viscolactis can cause abdominal infection and illness. This is not a very pleasant way for anyone to spend a lovely summer day! How can you tell if your sun tea contains this bacteria? When the tea is freshly brewed, it is difficult to tell. However, if the sun tea has been placed in the refrigerator, inspect it carefully. If there are any weird looking particles floating around in the brew that look something like rope, you definitely have bacteria in your sun drink. Whatever you do, do not drink this brew! It is advised that you should pour out the tea and wash the container that held it thoroughly before you try to brew again. Personally, I would discard the container, and buy another one. There is no sense in taking chances! How can you prepare sun tea safely? Is there a way to prevent the growth of bacteria and keep your brew from making you ill? Yes, there is! If you are looking for a little nostalgia, and would like to prepare some safe sun tea so that you can enjoy a glass of iced goodness safely, here is all you have to do. One way to make safe sun tea to serve iced is to boil the water you will be using to make the brew with for five full minutes. Boiling the water will kill off any bacteria. Another, and possibly the best way to make a sun drink is to prepare the special "no heat" sun tea. Granted, it is not really "sun" tea, but when safety is a factor, this is the best procedure to use. An alternative to boiling the water and a sure way to eliminate all bacteria is to use purified water processed through a steam distillation and oxygenation process. Refrigerator tea can be quite simple to make, and can taste delicious! Just place two quarts of water into a glass pitcher - no plastic! Plastic can absorb odors and will make your tea have a peculiar flavor. Place 8 teaspoons of loose black leaves in the water, and place the pitcher in the refrigerator. Leave it there overnight. Next morning, strain the drink using a fine strainer. If sweetening is preferred, add the sugar to the water before placing the leaves in the pitcher. You can use any type of tea you like in this recipe, but the black tea is especially good. Serve the tea poured over ice in a tall glass.
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