"Three’s a Trend", right? So after never once in 20 years seeing iced tea in France, nor anywhere in Europe for that matter, I encountered it three times this week. Il est arrivé!
But as usual, the French have put their own spin on a Southern Classic. And I have to say we southerners are a bit fussy about our iced tea, which has been called “the house wine of the South". So you French folks, while you know your wine way better than we ever will, you might need a bit of education on iced tea (just as the Brits have had to educate me about making the perfect cup of hot tea: see Tea with a Twist.).
But then, the American market has messed with our iced tea as well. I remember the first time I saw a bottle of ice tea for sale. What?! I was incredulous that anyone would pay for this. If there’s anything easier to make then iced tea, I don’t know what it is. And it’s best homemade, served up fresh as a summer daisy and icy cold.
My first encounter with French iced tea this week, which they call thé glacé, was at a PHARMACY of all places. To understand how strange this is, you should know that French pharmacies are not like CVS or Rite-Aid; they only sell health and personal care products. What was on their summer-special display were big pouches of iced tea to wake you up, put you to sleep, cool you off, improve your health, and other such “flavors”. I assume there were tea bags inside of the pouches.
I saw some bags again in another shop. Translation of the flavors: "Caressing Coconut", "For the Love of Organic Strawberries", and "The Wellpring of Maoris". Hmm.
Then the third time, on the menu of a nice restaurant where we were lunching: Special drink of the day, Thé Glacé, 4 euros!
Of course I had to order it. Quel surpris: This was NOT southern iced tea. No one asked me, “sweet or unsweet?”. And it arrived in a tiny glass. And it was almost clear! Plus it had flowers in it. It wasn’t particularly cold. I asked the waiter what sort of tea it was: “Green tea, Madame”, he said. A strange choice, in my book. See photo of my thé glacé at top.
So as an experiment, I later ordered a thé glacé at our local café. It was market day and it was an unseasonably hot 98 degrees, so I was looking forward to something large and icy.
It came in a very small bottle (peach flavored) with a small glass with exactly one tiny ice cube in it.
So, for the French, here is a primer on how to make Southern Iced Tea:
Southern Sweet Tea (or unsweetened, if you must) is made not by the glass but in a big pitcher and kept in the fridge, ice cold. It will keep for about a week.
The absolute laziest way:
Fill a pitcher with water, drop 3 Lipton family sized tea bags in it, and leave it overnight to steep. Remove tea bags and you’re done.
Sun tea:
As above, but put the pitcher in the sun for about three hours. It should be in a clear glass container.
The above methods are best for unsweetened tea. If you want to add sugar, you’ll want to use the method below, nearly as easy, also faster.
The Classic Way: Sweet-tea is sort of one word in Southern, and this is my method for it. Boil a large pot of water. up to a cup of sugar per gallon for sweet tea, but I put just 2 tablespoons for a large pitcher, for lightly sweet. You’ll need to experiment a bit here to see how you like it.
Use 3 family sized black tea bags per gallon (or a dozen small ones), brand of your choice. Nothing fancy, Lipton or Tetley will do. Bring a large pot of water to a rolling boil. Remove from heat, add the tea bags and let steep for a while. Five minutes is the minimum, but I leave it 20 minutes or more then dilute it. Remove tea bags and stir in the sugar. Cool and pour into a large glass pitcher. Add more water to taste, stir, and chill.
If you have a household with tea drinkers of various tastes, make two pitchers, one fully sweet and one not, and folks can combine them as they pour their own glass.
To serve:
Pour into a glass over lots of ice. A slice of lemon or lime or a sprig of mint is not really optional.
What do you think? How do you make your iced tea, and have you encountered iced tea in France?
Favorite TV: I like to watch European shows, bien sûr, and our favorite one lately is one our kids told us about called Signora Volpe. Watch it for the beautiful Italian scenery!
42 thoughts on “The French Discover Iced Tea, Sort Of”
We discovered Thè Peche (Lipton)in little glass bottles and cans at the sandwich shops and superettes in Paris fifteen years ago or more. It is not what one is used to here in the USA, but it is refreshing and not as sweet as “sweet”tea. I believe it also come Menthe flavor. I have only tried the peach tea and it has a satisfying peachness and quenches thirst quite nicely. I never understood the lack of iced tea in bistros and the like since it is cheap for them to make and they could charge a huge bunch of euros for it like all the others beverages. Once they figure this out it will be everywhere. What bistro owner would not want such a profit center on their menu. I had iced tea last week in a restaurant near Boston and it was 3.50USD so it would probably be 5 Euros in France. BTW we both brought Covid home from New England and are now recovering at home.
We discovered Thè Peche (Lipton)in little glass bottles and cans at the sandwich shops and superettes in Paris fifteen years ago or more. It is not what one is used to here in the USA, but it is refreshing and not as sweet as “sweet”tea. I believe it also come Menthe flavor. I have only tried the peach tea and it has a satisfying peachness and quenches thirst quite nicely. I never understood the lack of iced tea in bistros and the like since it is cheap for them to make and they could charge a huge bunch of euros for it like all the others beverages. Once they figure this out it will be everywhere. What bistro owner would not want such a profit center on their menu. I had iced tea last week in a restaurant near Boston and it was 3.50USD so it would probably be 5 Euros in France. BTW we both brought Covid home from New England and are now recovering at home.
We discovered Thè Peche (Lipton)in little glass bottles and cans at the sandwich shops and superettes in Paris fifteen years ago or more. It is not what one is used to here in the USA, but it is refreshing and not as sweet as “sweet”tea. I believe it also come Menthe flavor. I have only tried the peach tea and it has a satisfying peachness and quenches thirst quite nicely. I never understood the lack of iced tea in bistros and the like since it is cheap for them to make and they could charge a huge bunch of euros for it like all the others beverages. Once they figure this out it will be everywhere. What bistro owner would not want such a profit center on their menu. I had iced tea last week in a restaurant near Boston and it was 3.50USD so it would probably be 5 Euros in France. BTW we both brought Covid home from New England and are now recovering at home.
I’ve suffered with the peach tea for ten years now – I’m looking forward to my road stops have something more “real”. What would a frenchie do with a sweet tea!
Here’s to all good things southern!!
I’ve suffered with the peach tea for ten years now – I’m looking forward to my road stops have something more “real”. What would a frenchie do with a sweet tea!
Here’s to all good things southern!!
I’ve suffered with the peach tea for ten years now – I’m looking forward to my road stops have something more “real”. What would a frenchie do with a sweet tea!
Here’s to all good things southern!!
C’est vrai. I saw bottles of Arizona ice tea in the supermarche and wondered what the heck is that doing in France?🤔
C’est vrai. I saw bottles of Arizona ice tea in the supermarche and wondered what the heck is that doing in France?🤔
C’est vrai. I saw bottles of Arizona ice tea in the supermarche and wondered what the heck is that doing in France?🤔
In supermarkets we’ve had bottles of ice tea for at least the last 30 years. Never tried it. I suspect those bottles of ice tea have nothing to compare with your homemade one.
In supermarkets we’ve had bottles of ice tea for at least the last 30 years. Never tried it. I suspect those bottles of ice tea have nothing to compare with your homemade one.
In supermarkets we’ve had bottles of ice tea for at least the last 30 years. Never tried it. I suspect those bottles of ice tea have nothing to compare with your homemade one.
I’m in the US, I went to college in the South, so I know Southern ice tea. Back then, I loved it, but I don’t eat much sugar anymore. I agree, the bottled tea here is not up to snuff. I find it too strong and it just doesn’t taste like the real thing.
I’m in the US, I went to college in the South, so I know Southern ice tea. Back then, I loved it, but I don’t eat much sugar anymore. I agree, the bottled tea here is not up to snuff. I find it too strong and it just doesn’t taste like the real thing.
I’m in the US, I went to college in the South, so I know Southern ice tea. Back then, I loved it, but I don’t eat much sugar anymore. I agree, the bottled tea here is not up to snuff. I find it too strong and it just doesn’t taste like the real thing.
YES! I always forget about this and thank you for the reminder. I always use this ratio for ANY sort of tea: https://www.closetcooking.com/cold-brewed-iced-tea/
YES! I always forget about this and thank you for the reminder. I always use this ratio for ANY sort of tea: https://www.closetcooking.com/cold-brewed-iced-tea/
YES! I always forget about this and thank you for the reminder. I always use this ratio for ANY sort of tea: https://www.closetcooking.com/cold-brewed-iced-tea/
Lovely to hear about summer tea in France. I well remember the European aversion to ice. We are no doubt the strange ones. 😉
Lovely to hear about summer tea in France. I well remember the European aversion to ice. We are no doubt the strange ones. 😉
Lovely to hear about summer tea in France. I well remember the European aversion to ice. We are no doubt the strange ones. 😉
We love Signora Volpe, as well as Candice Renoir and Balthazar!
We love Signora Volpe, as well as Candice Renoir and Balthazar!
We love Signora Volpe, as well as Candice Renoir and Balthazar!
What would Summer be without ice tea? (Love your pictures!)
Here in Las Vegas, sun tea is a staple.
And simple syrup to sweeten is better than the best!
I must admit that at my age, with more days behind than ahead now, I am not embarrassed to admit that I take delight in splurging and using Mariage Frere, red roobidos( caffeine free)Paris in Love( in tea bags.)Oh my, I have floated off to heaven on a cloud!!
Served with plenty of ice, bien sur!!
A book to suggest for lazy afternoon reading:Dictionary of Lost Words.Different and holds your attention!!
What would Summer be without ice tea? (Love your pictures!)
Here in Las Vegas, sun tea is a staple.
And simple syrup to sweeten is better than the best!
I must admit that at my age, with more days behind than ahead now, I am not embarrassed to admit that I take delight in splurging and using Mariage Frere, red roobidos( caffeine free)Paris in Love( in tea bags.)Oh my, I have floated off to heaven on a cloud!!
Served with plenty of ice, bien sur!!
A book to suggest for lazy afternoon reading:Dictionary of Lost Words.Different and holds your attention!!
What would Summer be without ice tea? (Love your pictures!)
Here in Las Vegas, sun tea is a staple.
And simple syrup to sweeten is better than the best!
I must admit that at my age, with more days behind than ahead now, I am not embarrassed to admit that I take delight in splurging and using Mariage Frere, red roobidos( caffeine free)Paris in Love( in tea bags.)Oh my, I have floated off to heaven on a cloud!!
Served with plenty of ice, bien sur!!
A book to suggest for lazy afternoon reading:Dictionary of Lost Words.Different and holds your attention!!
Why would anyone want sugar in tea, hot or cold?
Why would anyone want sugar in tea, hot or cold?
Why would anyone want sugar in tea, hot or cold?
I’ve encountered sweet tea in France in bottles since the first time I went in 2004 but didn’t really pay attention to it until I took my husband there to visit Provence in 2015 and he absolutely detested the only flavor you could get which was peach. Oh well!
I’ve encountered sweet tea in France in bottles since the first time I went in 2004 but didn’t really pay attention to it until I took my husband there to visit Provence in 2015 and he absolutely detested the only flavor you could get which was peach. Oh well!
I’ve encountered sweet tea in France in bottles since the first time I went in 2004 but didn’t really pay attention to it until I took my husband there to visit Provence in 2015 and he absolutely detested the only flavor you could get which was peach. Oh well!
Your true Southern sister here…saying LIPTON?! Vraiment? Such loyalty to the brand—Mom would be proud. This tea lover, on the other hand, has 18 herbal loose teas in the cupboard and I use a smidgen of at least 6 in my weekly mix: hibiscus, lemongrass, mint, elderberry, green tea and different flavors of rooibus. I am rebellious enough to drink UNsweetened but a squeeze of lime is a constant. Great article/topic…and you are right about the prominence of tea around the south—the waitress usually brings tea pitchers first instead of water.
Your true Southern sister here…saying LIPTON?! Vraiment? Such loyalty to the brand—Mom would be proud. This tea lover, on the other hand, has 18 herbal loose teas in the cupboard and I use a smidgen of at least 6 in my weekly mix: hibiscus, lemongrass, mint, elderberry, green tea and different flavors of rooibus. I am rebellious enough to drink UNsweetened but a squeeze of lime is a constant. Great article/topic…and you are right about the prominence of tea around the south—the waitress usually brings tea pitchers first instead of water.
Your true Southern sister here…saying LIPTON?! Vraiment? Such loyalty to the brand—Mom would be proud. This tea lover, on the other hand, has 18 herbal loose teas in the cupboard and I use a smidgen of at least 6 in my weekly mix: hibiscus, lemongrass, mint, elderberry, green tea and different flavors of rooibus. I am rebellious enough to drink UNsweetened but a squeeze of lime is a constant. Great article/topic…and you are right about the prominence of tea around the south—the waitress usually brings tea pitchers first instead of water.
I’ve been seeing bottled iced tea in France for about 15 years. I tried it once or twice. Its just not the same as freshly made, and often disgustingly sweet. Peach flavored? Ugh. You are quite correct about how to make iced tea!
bonnie in provence
I’ve been seeing bottled iced tea in France for about 15 years. I tried it once or twice. Its just not the same as freshly made, and often disgustingly sweet. Peach flavored? Ugh. You are quite correct about how to make iced tea!
bonnie in provence
I’ve been seeing bottled iced tea in France for about 15 years. I tried it once or twice. Its just not the same as freshly made, and often disgustingly sweet. Peach flavored? Ugh. You are quite correct about how to make iced tea!
bonnie in provence
I use a Mr Coffe Iced Tea maker and Lipton teabags. Super easy!
I use a Mr Coffe Iced Tea maker and Lipton teabags. Super easy!
I use a Mr Coffe Iced Tea maker and Lipton teabags. Super easy!