The Clever Hack To Prevent Diluted Iced Tea

Whether hanging at a backyard barbecue, cooling off after a long day of yard work, or relaxing solo by the pool, there's nothing quite as refreshing as a tall glass of iced tea on a hot summer day. The only problem is the ice. Yes, that's what keeps your drink cold, but it's also what turns it into a flavorless, watery mess as it melts. If only there was a clever hack to prevent diluted iced tea, some way to keep it cool while retaining all of its robust flavors. Turns out there is a way — iced tea cubes.

And while that might seem like a no-brainer once you've heard it, how many of us have actually done it? In fact, this why-didn't-I-think-of-that-myself trick is so effective a solution to this iced tea conundrum (second only to knowing why brewed tea should always be stored in the refrigerator) that it will make you wonder why you haven't tried it sooner. Here's how it works— as the iced tea cubes melt, they seamlessly incorporate into the drink, allowing you to sip slowly and savor all that tea-licious flavor right through to the end. It also means refills are happening automatically, which is sure to impress even the most indifferent of guests at your next backyard gathering.

To use this simple workaround, brew up a double batch of your favorite tea as usual. Next, allow the tea to cool, and then fill your ice trays with half of the cooled tea. Once you've filled your trays, just pop them in the freezer for about four hours or until fully frozen, and you're good to go. But that's just the basics, there's more fun to be had with this must-have hack.

Now's the time to get a little creative. Consider adding freshly squeezed lemon or lime juice or even a thin sliver of these citrus fruits right into the ice tray's compartments. Some people even add floral or herbal components like lavender and mint to their ice so that additional flavors and scents release slowly as the ice melts, creating a changing and evolving experience. You could even mix and match tea flavors, for example, filling a glass with iced chamomile tea but adding ginger tea ice cubes with lemon slices for a refreshing burst of flavors, or try hibiscus tea with orange cinnamon tea ice for a spicy twist. Even if those ideas don't sound like your particular cup of tea, iced tea has a lot of room for variation and there are many ways to elevate it.