Takeya Flash Chill Iced Tea Maker - Airtight & Durable Iced Tea Maker Jug with Silicone Carry Handle - Leak-Proof & Lightweight Tea Infuser with Patented Flash Chill Technology - 1 Quart, Black

By far my favorite purchase this year. I love iced tea, it is my drink of choice anytime I go out to eat, but I've never been able to capture that same taste at home. I typically do sun tea, but again, the flavor is just never right and the container is too large, and requires me to transfer it to another pitcher. This tea maker/pitcher is perfect in every way. First, it's super easy to use. 2nd, it's the perfect size to keep in your fridge. 3rd and most importantly, the tea is amazing and 4th, it's very easy to clean. I have not tried the "fast chill", but I really don't need to because making cold tea is a breeze. Here's the recipe and method I use....put 8 lipton tea bags, or tea bags of your choice in the filter, fill the pitcher about 3/4 of the way, screw the filter into the lid, then screw the lid into the pitcher. Put it in your refrigerator and leave it over night. Honestly you can probably drink it after 4 hours, but I like the taste to be a little stronger. In the morning, unscrew the lid and unscrew the filter, there is a handy little black cup to put the filter in so it doesn't drip everywhere. Remove the tea bags from the filter, screw the lid back on and now you've got a pitcher full of tea ready to be poured. To pour the tea, you turn the lid so one of the arrow points towards the handle, then tighten it back up after you pour. When I pour my last glass of tea, I just do the process all over again so that I always have tea on hand.

I recently picked up this iced tea maker, and let me tell you, it's been a game-changer. It's the perfect size - large enough to give me a full glass or two for days, yet compact enough to slide into my fridge without taking up space.I've got to admit, I've been hooked on the cold brew function and haven't even ventured into the flash chill territory yet. The cold brew is just too good and so simple! I just drop in about 8 tea bags, let it sit in the fridge overnight, and wake up to fragrant, refreshing tea. Technically if you look up each tea you will see the optimal amount of brewing time, but I’ve accidentally left the tea bags in for days before with absolutely no issue.The design is pretty well thought out too. It comes with an infuser chamber that screws right into the lid so it’s easy to add/remove. And the extra little cup that catches any drips after you remove the infuser? Genius. I never would have thought of it but the small details make all the difference. I've been sticking to tea bags for the sake of convenience, but it's nice to know it can handle loose leaf tea since a lot of the high quality blends are loose leaf.I've experimented with green tea, spearmint, and hibiscus so far, and they've all turned out amazing. Honestly, it's like this tea maker was designed for people who want easy convenience. I've been trying to swap coffee for tea for awhile now, but I kept forgetting about my steeping tea until hours later when it was the steepiest it could possibly be. This iced tea maker's been a lifesaver - or should I say, a tea-saver? I've almost completely cut out coffee now because making delicious tea is just so effortless with this thing.The only little hiccup is the staining from some of the more pigmented teas. I’ve found that it can get a kind of yellowish tint. However a deep clean with baking soda and vinegar every other week keeps it looking fresh and new!I can’t recommend this enough, I’m thinking about getting several in multiple colors so I can color code my teas or do a caffeine/non caffeine blend each time.

A great container that makes it easy and fast to make great iced tea. Below is a recipe for green tea that I had been making for some time...this is perfect for it.5-Minute Fresh-Brewed Iced Green TeaThis iced tea preparation method is FAST, and still delivers unsurpassed taste. Amazingly simple and effective (did I mention fast!), the method is adaptable to any tea variety. Best of all, if you use the brand of green tea recommended, it costs ~$1 to make 2 quarts (64 ounces) of iced tea, or about 15 cents per 8 ounce serving of tea!Ingredients:• 2 qt container• 8 x 1.5g bags (12g) green tea (or to taste)• Dash matcha (optional)• I qt water• ~1 qt iceDirections:1. Bring 1 qt water to 175 deg F (NOT boiling)2. Transfer hot water to container3. Add tea (and dash of matcha)4. Remove tea after 45 seconds - 1 minute5. Add ice to make 2 qts (i.e. 1 quart tea + 1 quart ice = 2 qts)6. Agitate (stir or shake) to melt ice7. Pour into a glass over ice8. EnjoyNotes:• This method is adaptable to any type of tea desired by using 8 tea bags (or the equivalent in grams), and modifying the steeping temperature and time as appropriate. I like to make an iced hibiscus tea (16g hibiscus leaves per 2 qt final volume, 212 deg F boiling water, steep 5 min).• The time it takes to heat your water is really the time-limiting factor in this preparation. You might be able to beat 5 minutes, or perhaps it will take you 8 minutes. I use an electric tea kettle that has an adjustable temperature control. As explained below, temperature does matter.• Yes, that's right, that's how green tea is done. The Japanese have studied green tea for centuries, and you use water heated to 175 degrees and steep it for 45 seconds to 1 minute. They tell you to bob the bag three times, then hold it above the tea and shake it three times before discarding. Seriously, they have studied this issue. If you like stronger tea add more, but steeping it longer just makes it taste bitter, or so say countless generations of people who have made it their business to know something about such things. Of course you can burn it with boiling water and let it get bitter, just saying. Or maybe it’s different with Chinese green teas, I have found I prefer the Japanese teas.• The container can be any sort of pitcher or jug, and it is especially nice if it has a lid that seals so you can shake it to melt the ice. Takeya makes a good one that includes a strainer. Make sure to think about how you will remove your tea ahead of time if you don’t have a strainer or the strings aren’t long enough…chopsticks work in a pinch.• I recommend Costco Kirkland Signature Brand green tea, which is manufactured by Itoen in Japan. Costco picked the best supplier they could find, and then provide it to members at the lowest price possible (that’s what they DO). It includes a bit of powdered green tea called matcha in each bag that really adds to the flavor of the tea.• Matcha is a finely ground powder of specially shade-grown and processed (the stems and veins are removed) green tea. Many Japanese restaurants use matcha to make their green tea, both hot and iced. If you don't use the Costco tea, you can always add a bit of matcha, or you can flavor the tea entirely with matcha.• If you like your iced tea sweetened or with other flavorings like ginger or jasmine, add it after steeping but before adding the ice (between Steps 4 and 5). Agitate it a bit to help combine the sweeteners/flavorings if that helps.

I really like this product. It’s easy to use; doesn’t make a mess. Makes good tea. It fits nicely in the fridge as it’s not too tall. The only reason I gave it 4 stars instead of 5 is that it did not come with the infusion holder. That would have been nice as it’s supposed to be part of the product.