Cook Like Jackie readers may have been feeling that I have been a little heavy on the tea items, but that is only because this area is exploding. Not only are there great loose tea varieties available and wonderful tea shops to explore, but there are a host of new products on the market that will provide you with maximum tea enjoyment. New and notable is the Takeya Flash Chill Iced Tea Maker, a two-part brewing system that allows you to make up to 66 ounces of your favorite loose or bagged tea at one time. The system comes with two cylindrical AcraGlass food safe and BPA-free pitchers that can be easily integrated into any casual dining environment. When I initially looked at the product, I thought that using two pieces would perhaps be too cumbersome especially for someone like me who is already heavy on the kitchen gear. However after using the system for several days, I came to appreciate the design and the usefulness that the two pitchers provide. The smaller pitcher houses a removable rotating infuser which can steep up to 8 teaspoons of your favorite tea. While you are brewing your tea in the smaller pitcher, ice can be added to the larger pitcher. After steeping, you can simply pour your brewed tea over the ice and turn the lid to seal it in place. If you choose to do so, the smaller pitcher can now be used to brew a backup batch that can replenish your tea when needed. The lids are one of the most remarkable aspects of the tea system because they are designed to be airtight. Each lid has direction labels on the top to help you to lock them in place, and thin slits on each side which when the placed in the proper position, allow for easy pouring. The handle is easy to grip and my was in the avocado/olive color scheme. Other lid color options include orange, blue, white and black. The parts are lightweight yet sturdy, dishwasher safe and the aggravation of having two pieces is easily overlooked when you realize that you can create a backup container which makes refreshing your larger jug a breeze. I would have liked to see a more substantial infuser that contained a heavier plastic or even stainless steel on the basket. I also felt that the mesh part of the infuser is soft and fine, which will keep tea leaves out of the water, but the mesh is a bit flimsy. Fragrant or colored teas may stain the infuser with repeated use, so be sure to clean that part frequently and allow it to dry properly. Overall, this is a great product, especially for iced tea aficionados. The set retails for US $39.95 and is available at many retailers including http://www.amazon.com/. For more information on making the most of your iced tea e-mail cooklikejackie@gmail.com. FTC Disclaimer - Sample product was provided for this review.
Tuesday, May 18, 2010
New and Notable - Takeya Flash Chill Iced Tea Maker
Cook Like Jackie readers may have been feeling that I have been a little heavy on the tea items, but that is only because this area is exploding. Not only are there great loose tea varieties available and wonderful tea shops to explore, but there are a host of new products on the market that will provide you with maximum tea enjoyment. New and notable is the Takeya Flash Chill Iced Tea Maker, a two-part brewing system that allows you to make up to 66 ounces of your favorite loose or bagged tea at one time. The system comes with two cylindrical AcraGlass food safe and BPA-free pitchers that can be easily integrated into any casual dining environment. When I initially looked at the product, I thought that using two pieces would perhaps be too cumbersome especially for someone like me who is already heavy on the kitchen gear. However after using the system for several days, I came to appreciate the design and the usefulness that the two pitchers provide. The smaller pitcher houses a removable rotating infuser which can steep up to 8 teaspoons of your favorite tea. While you are brewing your tea in the smaller pitcher, ice can be added to the larger pitcher. After steeping, you can simply pour your brewed tea over the ice and turn the lid to seal it in place. If you choose to do so, the smaller pitcher can now be used to brew a backup batch that can replenish your tea when needed. The lids are one of the most remarkable aspects of the tea system because they are designed to be airtight. Each lid has direction labels on the top to help you to lock them in place, and thin slits on each side which when the placed in the proper position, allow for easy pouring. The handle is easy to grip and my was in the avocado/olive color scheme. Other lid color options include orange, blue, white and black. The parts are lightweight yet sturdy, dishwasher safe and the aggravation of having two pieces is easily overlooked when you realize that you can create a backup container which makes refreshing your larger jug a breeze. I would have liked to see a more substantial infuser that contained a heavier plastic or even stainless steel on the basket. I also felt that the mesh part of the infuser is soft and fine, which will keep tea leaves out of the water, but the mesh is a bit flimsy. Fragrant or colored teas may stain the infuser with repeated use, so be sure to clean that part frequently and allow it to dry properly. Overall, this is a great product, especially for iced tea aficionados. The set retails for US $39.95 and is available at many retailers including http://www.amazon.com/. For more information on making the most of your iced tea e-mail cooklikejackie@gmail.com. FTC Disclaimer - Sample product was provided for this review.
