Why does my iced tea turn cloudy after I put it in the refrigerator ?

paulette g
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9 Comments

Sam1148 July 2, 2012
Wow...I'm surprised people still use saccharine for sweet tea at home today. I just put a spoonful of sugar in the warm tea at home. At resturants I'll get unsweetened and use the fake sugar pack (just a touch 1/4 at most) as it dissolves much better on cold liquid.

 
CHeeb July 2, 2012
Luzianne is one of the best for clarity, along with Red Diamond and Ahmad English # 1 . I'm with Sam1148... I ,too, use saccharine and have almost lost the need for sugar altogether in my tea . Don't give up ...life is too short for cloudy tea !!!
 
CHeeb July 2, 2012
Luzianne is one of the best for clarity, along with Red Diamond and Ahmad English # 1 . I'm with Sam1148... I ,too, use saccharine and have almost lost the need for sugar altogether in my tea . Don't give up ...life is too short for cloudy tea !!!
 
CHeeb July 2, 2012
Luzianne is one of the best for clarity, along with Red Diamond and Ahmad English # 1 . I'm with Sam1148... I ,too, use saccharine and have almost lost the need for sugar altogether in my tea . Don't give up ...life is too short for cloudy tea !!!
 
Miafoodie July 2, 2012
Luzana Tea makes an "iced tea bag" especially for making iced tea.
I live in FL and always make 'sun tea' which never clouds, no matter
what tea I use.
 

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Sam1148 July 2, 2012
The tannins in tea can turn cloudy. Let it cool to room temp before chilling.

Another trick is a pinch of baking soda to a quart of tea. That helps cut down cloudiness and softens the tannins/acid in the tea. And makes a very smooth iced tea.
Here's a bit from NPR on iced tea:
http://www.npr.org/programs/atc/features/2002/aug/icedtea/

 
bugbitten July 2, 2012
Bingo! Great link, Sam.
 
Sam1148 July 2, 2012
I'm a bad Southern. I don't care for super-sweet iced tea. We make it at home all the time with just large spoonful of sugar to a quart.

I remember my grandmothers sweet tea...it was clear but super sweet. She'd add about 1/2 of Karyo syrup...and then to cut down on sugar about 4 crushed saccharine tablets on top the sryup. Everyone else loved it...to me was just too sweet. Arrrgh.


http://whatscookingamerica.net/Beverage/IceTeaAndra.htm
 
chefsusie July 2, 2012
Could be that your water has high mineral content. Placing in fridge too quickly.

Heloise website
 
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