I made one of those refrigerator discoveries this afternoon. Usually refrigerator discoveries are a bad thing, but this one was pleasant. Several weeks ago, I made a gallon of very strong tea. I stored it in the fridge in the tea jar with a spigot. About a week later, I noticed that the crisper drawer had transformed into a vegetable spa, complete with a rejuvinating tea bath. I dutifully cleaned up the mess and put the remaining tea into a small mason jar and promptly began thinking of other things. It stealthily migrated to the back of the fridge, as if it were involved in the beverage protection program, and remained indetectable.

Until today, when the tea emerged once again, the trophy from a successful search for a satisfying beverage. I remember making the tea, and I remember cleaning up the tea. I even remember putting the tea into the smaller jar. However, I don't remember the tea being anywhere near this dark.

I filled up my glass about halfway and then added an equal measure of water and observed no noticible change in the color and opacity of the liquid. Three spoonfulls of sugar and four ice cubes later, I was enjoying the best glass of tea I have ever consumed.

If you have the extra fridge space, I highly recommend aging your tea.