On a hot summer day nothing quenches thirst quite like a tall icy glass of iced tea. This classic American beverage has been a staple in homes and restaurants for decades. While there are many brands to choose from, one iced tea stands out for its quality ingredients, delicious flavors, and Pennsylvania roots. Let’s explore the refreshing world of Turkey Hill iced teas!
An Overview of Turkey Hill Iced Tea
Turkey Hill Dairy has been crafting its signature iced teas since 1981 at its facility in Conestoga, PA. Made with real brewed tea, the line includes both regular and diet options in a variety of fruit flavors. Fun flavors like peach, raspberry, and lemonade tea put a unique twist on traditional iced tea.
At around 120 calories per 12 oz serving, Turkey Hill iced tea offers a flavorful way to quench thirst without a lot of sugar or calories The company uses natural flavors and sweeteners like cane sugar and high fructose corn syrup The ingredients create a perfect balance of sweetness and tartness.
In addition to fruit teas, Turkey Hill produces classic straight up iced tea in regular and diet versions. For an extra kick, try their Sweet Tea made with a hint of lemon. Green tea and decaf iced tea options are also available for more variety.
Behind the Scenes: How Turkey Hill Iced Tea Is Made
Turkey Hill uses a cold-brewing method to achieve smooth, authentic tea flavor in all its iced tea varieties. Instead of hot brewing the tea and then cooling it down, Turkey Hill steeps the tea leaves in cool filtered water.
The process takes longer, but cold brewing prevents the natural flavors of the tea from becoming bitter or oversteeped from hot water. The result is a smoother, purer tea taste.
After brewing, Turkey Hill blends the tea with cane sugar or other natural sweeteners depending on the variety. Fruit flavors like peach and raspberry come from natural essences, not sugary syrups or concentrates.
Drinks like lemonade tea combine the tea with lemon juice for a mix of sweet and tart. Finally, Turkey Hill adds citric acid for some tartness and preservatives to maintain freshness. The teas are then bottled up and ready for thirsty customers!
Popular Turkey Hill Iced Tea Flavors
With so many options, here is a breakdown of some of the most popular Turkey Hill iced tea flavors:
Iced Tea – This is the classic straight up black iced tea, brewed from orange pekoe and pekoe cut black tea leaves. Offered in regular and diet/decaf versions. The perfect baseline flavor.
Raspberry Tea – Sweet ruby red raspberry flavor blended with iced tea. One of the brand’s most popular fruit tea flavors.
Peach Tea – Juicy peach essence gives this thirst-quenching tea a summery vibe. A refreshing choice.
Lemonade Tea– A combination of refreshing iced tea with old fashioned lemonade. The sweet and tart flavors are a crowd pleaser.
Green Tea – For a lighter and grassier flavor, try the green tea brewed from Sencha style green tea leaves. Available diet or regular.
Sweet Tea – Turkey Hill’s take on traditional Southern sweet tea amps up the sweetness and adds lemon.
Enjoying Turkey Hill Iced Tea
Turkey Hill iced tea is widely available at major grocery stores and supermarkets across over 20 U.S. states. Popular sizes include 18.5 oz single bottles, gallon jugs, and half gallon cartons. Multipack cans and bottles are also available.
The teas are shelf-stable until opened, so stock up on a few bottles or jugs at a time if you don’t plan to drink them right away. For best taste, serve Turkey Hill iced tea chilled from the refrigerator. Customers recommend shaking the bottle before pouring to distribute flavors.
These iced teas can be enjoyed straight from the bottle, but also try pouring over ice in a tall glass garnished with an orange slice or mint. For a cocktail, mix with vodka, rum, or gin! Leftover tea can be refrigerated for up to 2 weeks after opening.
In addition to sipping at home, Turkey Hill iced tea is served at many cafes, diners, and restaurants across PA and the Northeast. Next time you see it on a menu, order a glass to enjoy with your meal.
Discovering New Flavors from the Tea Masters
As an innovator in the iced tea space, Turkey Hill is always dreaming up exciting new flavors for customers to discover. Some of their unique flavor mashups include:
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Orange Tea – Sweet orange flavor mixed into iced tea for a creamsicle taste.
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Diet Green Tea Mango – A fusion of green tea with tropical mango essence. Light and fruity.
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Diet Decaf Orange Tea – All the orange and tea flavor, without the calories, caffeine, or sugar.
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Arnold Palmer – A blend of lemonade and iced tea like the classic country club drink.
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Cherry Vanilla – Sweet cherry with smooth vanilla undertones make this a dessert-like tea.
Part of the fun of Turkey Hill iced tea is trying all the different flavor options and finding new favorites. Be adventurous and taste beyond your usual go-to flavor!
Quality Ingredients Make the Difference
When you reach for an ice-cold Turkey Hill iced tea, you can be confident you’re enjoying a quality beverage made with care. Several key factors contribute to the brand’s reputation for taste:
Real Brewed Tea – Unlike some bottled teas made from tea powder, Turkey Hill starts with genuine brewed black, green, or herbal tea. This provides authentic flavor.
No Syrups or Concentrates – The fruit flavors come from natural essences, not artificial syrups. This results in a cleaner, more natural taste.
Filtered Water – Turkey Hill brews its tea with filtered water from local Pennsylvania springs for purity.
Carefully Balanced Sweetness – The sweeteners and acids create the perfect balance of flavors in every sip.
Cold Brewing Method – Cold brewing the tea leaves maintains smooth flavor versus bitter hot brewed tea.
Natural Ingredients – No preservatives or artificial colors or flavors are used in Turkey Hill teas.
From the ingredients to the brewing method, Turkey Hill optimized every step of their iced tea making process. Taste the passion in every bottle!
Enjoying Turkey Hill Iced Tea Year-Round
While nothing beats sipping an iced tea in the summer heat, Turkey Hill’s flavors are so delicious they can be enjoyed all year long. Here are some tips for working iced tea into your daily routine no matter the weather or occasion:
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Enjoy over ice on hot days or add ice cubes to cold tea on chilly days for an icy treat.
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Warm up your tea in the winter by heating it in a saucepan with spices like cinnamon or cloves.
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Pack a bottle in your lunch to give your midday meal a boost of flavor.
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Make a DIY tea-rricane by pouring tea and lemonade over shaved ice for a fun family dinner.
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Use diet peach tea instead of water to give your morning oatmeal an infusion of flavor.
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Mix raspberry or green tea with your favorite vodka, gin, or rum for a delicious cocktail.
With so many varieties to choose from, Turkey Hill iced tea can satisfy any taste, anytime. Keep some in your refrigerator to elevate everyday meals and moments!
Bringing Home the True Taste of Turkey Hill
For over 40 years, Turkey Hill Dairy has been sharing a taste of their home in Lancaster County, PA with the world through their refreshingly flavorful iced teas. Made from quality ingredients and real brewed tea, one sip will transport your tastebuds. With so many amazing flavors to choose from, why settle for anything less than Turkey Hill iced tea? Pick up a bottle or jug on your next grocery run and refresh yourself with a true classic!
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