Pitcher of iced tea with cucumber, lemon, strawberry, and mint
FOOD NEWS
One Potential Reason Your Homemade Iced Tea Is Cloudy
BY CATHERINE NYORANI
Iced tea in a mason jar with straw, green garnish, and lemon slices
If your iced tea turns out cloudy, the likely cause is a temperature shock that results from putting your tea in the fridge while it's still hot.
 Pitcher and glasses of iced tea with lemon and green garnish
Murkiness in the tea occurs when tannins, the compounds that give the tea a bitter flavor, and caffeine, which is present in most teas, clump together.
Iced tea glasses with pitcher and lemon slice garnish on tray
To prevent these chemicals from binding, allow your tea to cool to room temperature, which takes at least one hour, before refrigerating it or adding ice.
Box of baking soda
Brewing tea at hot temperatures can also cloud it, so a cold brew is a good option for crystal-clear tea. If your tea is already cloudy, a pinch of baking soda will clear it up.