Iced tea -- A True Story

I went into a nice-looking coffeehouse/cafe right near Canterbury Cathedral this afternoon and I noticed they had iced coffee on their blackboard. They also had several varieties of tea listed as well and the usual sort of designer coffees, etc.

I thought ... hmmn, it's a hot day, an iced tea sounds like just the ticket! Noting the familiarity with iced coffee, I thought I might be in luck.

So I smiled at the girl behind the counter and I said "I notice you do iced coffee. Can you do an iced tea for me please?"

The girl got all flustered and a bit embarassed said "Sorry sir, I don't know how to make one."

I said calmly: "Well, it's a lot like iced coffee, only you use tea instead of coffee. You just brew some nice dark tea. Then you chill it over ice cubes in a glass. You're done ... iced tea!"

She looked at me blankly and said she would have to ask her manager to make one, won't be a moment, she's just upstairs. I was about to say never mind, got to go, don't bother and she trotted up the stairs. I could hear her shout up the stairwell: "Daphne, there's a gentleman here who is asking if we can make him an iced tea. Can you make one?"

Daphne, the manager said: "Oh, tell him sorry, we don't know how to make one." 

I just left shaking my head. I am willing to bet I will never find a place in the UK where I can reliably get a nice iced tea. I just hope maybe someday the Brits will figure out what it is.

GO HALOS, GO GUNNERS

For those of us who live in Canterbury name and shame.  You know you want to.   

I had the same thing happen to me!  I was in the same sort of cafe and thought what the heck, I'll ask-but the answer I got was 'we don't have iced tea, but we have smoothies'.    Er, thanks. 

you can get iced tea at Nelsons Diner at Kingsclere!  And its not too bad, plenty of ice, but it is sweetened.

Hmm maybe a dumb question but could you just order a cup of tea, then ask for a glass of ice separate? 

When I first arrived here I found the lack of iced tea a bit strange as well considering its a tea drinking country but it could be because hot tea is the norm here and the fact that its not a hot climate during the summer (well sometimes it is). That said, if places offer iced coffee I don't think iced tea is such a leap? Then again, what about the north/south difference in the states...in the south for the most part its sweet which I don't like, I prefer non sweet, add your own if you would like. I guess it depends on the region or country?

PS - I am not a coffee drinker....prefer tea, hot or cold. 

  The point is, the answer is right in the words: "ICED TEA".

Which requires two ingredients.
1) Ice. Frozen water.
2) Tea.

But they looked at me as if I had asked them to explain the rules of cricket. Which, btw, (not lbw!) most Brits couldn't do anyway.  and I know enough about cricket to know I don't give a damn.

Mind you I was watching the final night of the Proms tonight and I couldn't believe my eyes. No matter how long you've been in a foreign country, you can't believe how foreign you can appear until you ask for an iced tea.

Snarky Stu.
GO HALOS!

Maybe write them out a little recipe for iced tea, and they'll know how to make it next time?

Or if they're willing, you could step behind the counter & show them how it's done?

I miss the ice tea you get at restaurants, because no matter how hard I try, mine never tastes the same.  I could drink four glasses with dinner (ahhh the joys of free refills!).

I have always had good luck when I go into a TGIFriday's over here. I always ask for an iced tea and they don't even flinch.  (sometimes you may just need to ask for an extra glass of ice though)

yeah, most people look at you strangely though or say yuck.  Oh, well, to each their own!   

I have always had good luck when I go into a TGIFriday's over here. I always ask for an iced tea and they don't even flinch.  (sometimes you may just need to ask for an extra glass of ice though)

I thought I'd have good luck there too, but I asked and they said the only drink with iced tea is the long island iced tea (which doesn't even have iced tea in it). 

Diet coke it is!

*sigh*

I'd love a good glass of iced tea. That or a fridge big enough to keep a proper sized jug of it!

I had a nice glass of iced tea this morning but only because my wife makes a jug of it! Unfortunately our fridge is too small to keep much of it and I am a guy that can drink 4-5 big glasses of iced tea every day.

Back home I used to make a big batch of sun tea in a glass jar, but I had a big fridge and filtered water and those nice Tazo iced tea bags. And I used to love the iced tea at Starbucks back home (really clear water and Tazo tea) and the local restaurants, especially Spoons. I used to order a whole pitcher at Spoons! Even Carls Jr usually had good brewed iced tea so I'd get a couple of 36-ouncers

Starbucks is the only place in Canterbury you can get a nice glass of iced tea. But their staff changes all the time so I have to retrain them each time! ... fortunately enough American tourists ask for it there that most of them know how to do it. But if they're busy it can take a half-hour before you finally get your iced tea, because they brew up a mug of tea, then pour it over the ice, forget about it and give it to you lukewarm. I always have to ask for a separate glass of ice -- then it's finally right!

Last summer I nearly had the Canterbury Starbucks trained ... there was a nice kid working there who sympathised and he made sure they brewed up and chilled off a big container of tea each morning. So, they only had to pour it over the ice, voila!  Alas, the young chap went back to university, they never posted the price of iced tea on their menus, and the whole campaign died an untimely death.

Sigh, indeed.

Last summer I nearly had the Canterbury Starbucks trained ... there was a nice kid working there who sympathised and he made sure they brewed up and chilled off a big container of tea each morning. So, they only had to pour it over the ice, voila!  Alas, the young chap went back to university, they never posted the price of iced tea on their menus, and the whole campaign died an untimely death.

Sigh, indeed.

LOL! Hey at least you gave it a try....I wouldn't dare ask for iced tea here. It is a strange thing since tea is in the blood of Brits they no one has figured out that tea actually tastes good another way.

We are moving soon and I think I will start making my own iced tea because we will finally have a large frig so I will have somewhere to keep it. This thread has made me realize how much I miss it! 

In Germany I went into a restaurant and there was Eistee on the menu.  I was so excited that they finally figured out how to make iced tea and quickly ordered some.  The waitress brought out a cup of hot water, tea bag, and a small dish of vanilla ice cream!!!  What a surprise that was.  So I quietly made my cup of hot tea and let my girls eat the ice cream.  It just doesn't seem possible that it is hard to figure out how to make a glass of iced tea.  But I know you first have to give all these people the recipe for ICE!! 
But....I have found a place that actually serves iced tea with a smile and that is the Chili's restaurant in Cambridge with free refills.  The one in London Docklands does not and tried to tell me that it is impossible to find iced tea in England!