The Cool History of Iced Tea
Some tea purists may raise an eyebrow at iced tea, but here in the U.S., we can’t get enough of it—especially in the South, where sweet tea has been a regional staple since the 1800s. It's delightfully simple: brewed tea, a generous scoop of sugar, maybe a splash of lemon, all poured over ice.
While iced tea may seem like a modern favorite, its first recorded recipe appeared in Housekeeping in Old Virginia back in 1879. Still, it didn’t catch on nationally until the 1904 World’s Fair in St. Louis. That summer was sweltering, and no one wanted hot tea—so British tea merchant Richard Blechynden got creative. He poured his hot tea through chilled metal pipes and served it cold. The crowd loved it. Iced tea was officially born.
Some tea purists cringe at the idea of iced tea, but here in the U.S., we love it—especially in the South, where “sweet tea” has been around since the 1800s. It's simple: brewed tea, lots of sugar, maybe a splash of lemon, and served ice cold.
The first iced tea recipe showed up in an 1879 cookbook, Housekeeping in Old Virginia, but it didn’t really take off until the 1904 World’s Fair in St. Louis. That summer was brutally hot, and no one wanted hot tea—so British tea guy Richard Blechynden got clever. He ran his hot tea through chilled metal pipes, serving it cold. People loved it, and iced tea became a thing.
How to Make a Gallon of Iced Tea
- Pre-chill a gallon (128 oz) of bottled water in the fridge.
- Measure 22 teaspoons of any teadaytea blend into two large Finum tea filters.
- Heat 2 cups of water to the right temp for your tea (check the label!).
- Steep the filters in a heatproof container for 3–5 minutes. Use a spoon to keep them submerged.
- Remove the filters right when the timer goes off to avoid bitterness. Press out all the flavor.
- Cool quickly by pouring the concentrate over ice.
- Mix your concentrate with the rest of your chilled water. Done!
Want it sweet? Add sugar while it’s hot so it melts right in.
Looking for the perfect blends to chill? Explore our full Iced Tea Collection for flavor-packed favorites made for summer sipping.
Pro Tip: For tea cocktails or sweet tea popsicles, make a double-strength concentrate and adjust water or sweetener to taste.