Pitcher for iced tea

I think this is a common issue. This is what I ended up getting last summer after realizing it was probably a bad idea to brew piping hot tea in an old plastic pitcher. It’s 50oz, which is slightly smaller than many regular-sized pitchers out there, but works well for one or two people who want iced tea for a few days.

It’s made of a “new glass-like plastic called acraglass.” (BPA-free) Supposedly it’s safe, but then some new products turn out not to be safe in the long run. I’ll take my chances.

http://www.crateandbarrel.com/dining-and-entertaining/pitchers-and-decanters/airtight-pour-store-pitcher/s167943

http://www.teavana.com/tea-products/tea-makers-infusers/p/blue-infusion-tea-pitcher

I use this – its plastic, but but BPA-free, and I’ve never noticed any taste from it. It’s 24oz, which may be small, but it’s jus the right size for me. I think Teavana has – or used to have – a 50oz, but I can’t find it on their website.

Usually, I pour hot water instep for the required time, and then pull the brew basket out before I stick it in the fridge. Or, if it’s an herbal, I’ll leave the basket in while I put it in the fridge.

I have a Fiestaware Large Disc Pitcher. Works great for hot and cold. (Mine is red.)

http://www.fiestafactorydirect.com/c-145-large-disc-pitcher.aspx?pid=211

It is a bummer that it is not see through, but it is very sturdy. I am sure there are many places to buy it.

I found a big glass pitcher for the hot tea method. It was the thickest glass I saw, and when I asked someone who worked there if they thought it’d be good, they told me that it’d probably work just fine but if it broke I could get a refund, lol.

It’s similar to this one but patterned: http://www.worldmarket.com/product/index.jsp?productId=3596142

I use a Takeya jug. They sold them last year at Davids Tea in the summer, so they might be coming back. I got mine at Winners. It is heavy duty BPA free plastic. It also has an infuser. I make the big 60 ounce jug and leave it in the fridge for a few days.

I also have a Takeya pitcher I picked up last summer and it rocks! Double bonus…you can lay it down in the fridge (when lid is secure) to save space! I really suggest picking one up!

We actually have three of the 66 oz takeya pitchers.

First we bought one from Amazon, and it actually comes with a semi-decent infuser, so you could brew in the pot itself:

http://www.amazon.com/Takeya-Airtight-Drink-Maker-Pitcher/dp/B004TJ3ZUA/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1337213900&sr=8-3

Then Costco was selling the two pack for sub $20:

http://www.amazon.com/Takeya-Airtight-Drink-Maker-Pitcher/dp/B004TJ3ZUA/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1337213900&sr=8-3

They’re awesome. They’re BPA free, so no plastic leeches, and they feel like they’d actually hold up if I dropped one on my tile floor (though, I’m NOT testing that!).

They’re good enough that even though we now have three, I thought about picking another two-pack up from Costco just to have them around.

Those Takeya ones look great! On Amazon it says it’s 12 inches tall which is just barely too tall to fit in my fridge, but since it’s vacuum sealed I guess you could store it on its side? Is it really leak-proof? And since it’s not glass it won’t shatter with the temperature change, right?