How a Nagoya Madam's twist on a French Madam's world-best iced tea turned my barley-tea-loving child into a black tea fan.
When I, a Nagoya madam, put my own twist on a French madam's world-best iced tea, my barley-tea-loving child turned into a black tea fan.
I want to drink delicious iced tea.
But it feels like a waste to use expensive tea leaves.
Have you ever thought that way?
Besides, some of you reading this article might think that iced tea is just hot tea with ice added. I used to think so too.
That was until I saw this post on X.
フランスマダムのアイスティーの作り方、やろうやろうとおもって初めてやってみたんだけど…
— かぼす (@kabos99percent) April 21, 2025
なにこれ異様にうまいな…！？！？！？
Wait, 'insanely delicious'!?
To begin with, I have never experienced black tea that was 'insanely delicious.' That alone piqued my interest. Plus, I thought the UK was the home of black tea, so the appearance of a French madam really caught my attention. Can you really have an 'insanely delicious' experience with black tea? Really?
I'm curious, so I'll check the recipe page right away.
It says 'world's best.' The title alone makes you curious, doesn't it? Moreover, the article answered the question I was wondering about: 'Why France?'
'When people in Japan think of black tea, they think of the UK, right? But France actually consumes more black tea than the UK. So, you should ask the French about black tea.'
The article just went on without confirming if it was true, but I decided to look it up properly. It was extremely difficult to find online, so I took the easy way out and asked ChatGPT.
Tell me the top 10 countries in the world with the highest black tea consumption.
Exclude green tea, just black tea.
The top 10 countries in the world with the highest consumption of black tea (excluding green tea) are as follows.
🌍 World Black Tea Consumption Ranking (Annual consumption per capita)
Turkey: approx. 3.16kg
In Turkey, black tea called 'chai' is drunk daily, with an annual consumption of about 3.16kg per person.Ireland: approx. 2.19kg
In Ireland, strong black tea with milk and sugar is preferred, with an annual consumption of about 2.19kg per person.United Kingdom: approx. 1.94kg
In the UK, black tea is a part of daily life, with an annual consumption of about 1.94kg per person.Pakistan: approx. 1.50kg
In Pakistan, milk tea with spices called 'chai' is common, with an annual consumption of about 1.50kg per person.Iran: approx. 1.50kg
In Iran, black tea is consumed daily, with each person consuming about 1.50kg of black tea per year.Russia: approx. 1.38kg
In Russia, there is a traditional way of drinking black tea using a samovar, and each person consumes about 1.38kg of black tea per year.Morocco: approx. 1.22kg
In Morocco, mint tea is common, and each person consumes about 1.22kg of black tea per year.New Zealand: approx. 1.19kg
In New Zealand, black tea is consumed daily, and each person consumes about 1.19kg of black tea per year.Chile: approx. 1.19kg
In Chile, black tea consumption is increasing, and each person consumes about 1.19kg of black tea per year.Egypt: approx. 1.01kg
In Egypt, sweet black tea is common, and each person consumes about 1.01kg of black tea per year.
In these countries, black tea is deeply rooted in culture and daily life, and there are unique ways of drinking it and customs associated with it.
In Japan, green tea is mainstream, and black tea consumption tends to be relatively low.
Even though it is just per capita consumption, I thought of something. Everyone reading this article must have thought the same thing.
France isn't anywhere on the list!
This Madam is way too confident...!
Well, looking at the data, the credibility of what the French Madam says might be questionable, but as long as the iced tea is delicious, that's fine. That's enough for me.
Let's pull ourselves together and look at the recipe.
The Madam-style recipe for iced tea without ice that I was taught
(1) If possible, use a pot instead of a kettle, add 2 liters of water, and bring to a boil.
(2) Once boiling, turn off the heat, add 3 tea bags, cover with a lid, and let it steep for 21 minutes.
(3) Remove the lid and gently take out the tea bags using cooking chopsticks or similar.
(4) Leave it until it cools down to room temperature, then transfer it to a pitcher or jug and chill in the refrigerator overnight.
I was surprised by the unexpected approach of using a pot instead of boiling water in a kettle and adding tea leaves.
It's tea, but you make it in a pot?
Is it okay to use tea bags instead of loose tea leaves?
Don't you need to boil it like when making chai?
And anyway, what's with the 21 minutes?
From my limited knowledge of black tea, questions kept popping up one after another.
Because I had imagined a method like putting tea leaves in a teapot and waiting for it to brew, I never imagined making it in a big pot. For someone like me who used to drink iced tea by pouring hot black tea into a glass filled with ice, it was a much more careful way of making it than I had imagined.
It takes effort, but I thought I'd give it a try, so I checked the recipe again. Then, I noticed something.
(1) If possible, use a pot instead of a kettle, add 2 liters of water, and bring to a boil.
Two liters!? That makes quite a large amount! Even without this, the refrigerator is already occupied by barley tea pitchers (two 2-liter bottles), so if I make 2 liters of iced tea, I'll have trouble finding space for it. In our household's refrigerator situation, the main drink is the inexpensive barley tea that the kids love, so no other drink is allowed to threaten its territory. I sometimes make cold-brewed green tea, but that is strictly limited to under 1 liter. Furthermore, in the summer, bottled iced coffee (Nescafe unsweetened) also takes up space. There is even less room for storage.
In that case, is there any point in going through the trouble of making iced tea?
However, the me inside my heart asks.
──You're curious about that strangely delicious iced tea, aren't you? Can I really end my life without ever knowing what it tastes like?
Having said that, I'd be in trouble if I made too much. Could I make half the amount? Thinking that, I continue reading the article.
According to the Madam, every single step has meaning and specific attention to detail.
● Black tea is definitely more delicious when made in large quantities rather than small amounts at a time.
● Using a pot instead of a kettle is because when you put the tea bags in to steep, the extracted tea components spread evenly throughout the whole thing.
● When taking out the tea bags, never take them out roughly. Taking them out roughly will bring out bitterness, so take them out gently without even moving the surface of the water.
● Do not cool it rapidly; by cooling it over time, you won't ruin the flavor of the tea.
Is it really more delicious when made in large quantities...? My resolve is starting to waver. Should I make a large amount after all? Besides, what is this 21-minute steeping time?
Following the article, the mystery of the 21 minutes was dismissed by a single remark from the French Madam.
'No! I have been making iced tea every summer for decades, and I finally arrived at this optimal steeping time. 20 minutes won't do, and 22 minutes won't do. 21 minutes, you must follow it properly.'
She answered immediately.
In the Madam's life, 21 minutes seems to be the optimal solution. There is no scientific basis for it, but let's trust the confident Madam.
After thinking about various things, I decided to stop overthinking it.
This is Japan. If I don't make it to fit the Japanese refrigerator situation—in other words, my own household's refrigerator situation—it won't last long even if it is delicious. Perhaps there is meaning in me, a Nagoya Madam, adapting it to fit the Japanese situation here.
I know, yes.
It's mostly just a rationalization.
Even so, I want to recreate this iced tea to fit my household's circumstances. I don't want to give up on that strangely delicious experience!
And so, when a Nagoya Madam adapts the French Madam's way of making the world's most delicious iced tea, this is what happened.
(1) Put 1 liter of water in a pot and bring it to a boil.
It's a pot, not a kettle. Here, I listened to what the French Madam said. Considering that the tea needs to be extracted, I will make sure there is plenty of hot water in a small pot.
(2) Once boiling, turn off the heat, add two tea bags, cover with a lid, and let it steep for 21 minutes.
The tea bags I'm using are inexpensive ones sold at the supermarket. Since I can't split three bags in half, I used two here. I thought this would be just the right strength for my family, who likes strong tea. I will also strictly follow the 21-minute steeping time.
(3) Remove the lid and gently take out the tea bags using cooking chopsticks or similar.
Never squeeze the tea bags.
Take them out gently and carefully.
(4) Leave it until it cools to room temperature, then transfer it to a pitcher or jug and chill in the refrigerator overnight.
It seems the secret to its deliciousness is to let it cool slowly rather than chilling it rapidly, so I will follow the French madam's advice here as well.
It's done!
The iced tea is finished, and it looks refreshing. I'll serve it right away for the children's snack time.
"This tea is delicious!"
The children were delighted and gulped it all down.
I'll have a sip too.
──It's delicious! There's almost no bitterness, it's refreshing on the palate, and above all, the aroma is wonderful!
If I used better tea bags, the aroma might be even richer. But for everyday drinking, this might be just right. It's not overpowering, and it's an easy-to-drink flavor that you won't get tired of. I find myself reaching for another sip. With this level of deliciousness, even the mysterious 21-minute steeping time isn't a bother.
This is good. I'll make this a staple in our home.
This summer, I'll add this iced tea to our rotation alongside barley tea and cold-brewed green tea. The children are thrilled, too. It disappeared in the blink of an eye.
Needless to say, my husband asked me for iced tea at night.