We Just Discovered The Easiest Hack for Drinking Tea
Tea is nothing if not timeless. People have been drinking it for thousands of years, and today, it's just as trendy as ever thanks to the many delicious flavors available and the research-backed health benefits. On a cold winter's day, there's nothing cozier than a piping hot cup—and then on a sweltering summer afternoon, an iced version is just the refreshing pick-me-up you need. Arguably, the only conundrum that comes up when you're brewing tea is this: if you add ice to get your tea to optimal sipping temperature, you'll instantly water it down. If this issue sounds familiar, here's some good news—we found the easiest hack for drinking tea that instantly solves this issue. Here's how, and for even more clever cooking tips, be sure to check out our list of 100 Easiest Recipes You Can Make.
It goes a little something like this: After brewing a hot cup of tea, you want to drink it right away. Obviously, taking a sip too soon would burn your mouth, so you either have to wait until it cools down (and then you might forget about it and wait too long), or add ice, which will dilute the tea. The same problem goes for iced tea: the longer it sits out, the more the ice melts, thus compromising the flavor. But guess what? You don't have to settle for watery tea. The best part is, all you need is an ice cube tray to fix the problem.
Here's the easy hack for drinking tea: Brew a batch of your favorite tea and pour it into an ice cube tray. Once the tea is frozen an hour or so later, you can add cubes to your next cup of tea—that way, your drink won't get diluted as the ice melts.
Get creative with your tea cubes!
While you're at it, why not get a little creative with your tea cubes? For example, you could add a dash of lemon juice or honey, or kick things up a notch with fruit and herbs. This is an excellent hack for entertaining, too—because when the ice starts melting, the added ingredients will provide a lovely, eye-catching garnish to your drinks. The possibilities are endless, but here are some ideas to get you started:
- Green tea + honeydew
- Matcha + mint leaves
- White tea + strawberries + basil
- Chamomile tea + elderflower syrup
- Black tea + blackberry + sage
- Ginger tea + pineapple
- Passionfruit tea + pomegranate seeds
By the way—these cubes aren't just for tea, either. Try popping them into seltzer or lemonade for a fun flavor infusion, or even use them in your smoothies for some added complexity or caffeine. You'll be amazed at how tea ice can totally transform a cocktail or mocktail, too.
However you choose to use your tea cubes, rest assured that your beverage will get more flavorful—as opposed to less—as the ice dissolves. You're welcome.
