Annually celebrated on June 10, it is National Iced Tea Day. Today is set aside to celebrate one of summer’s favorite drinks. Whether it is sweetened or unsweetened, with or without lemon, it is loved by many and enjoyed by the glass full all summer long.
Iced tea can be found in many flavors including lemon, peach, raspberry, lime, passions fruit, strawberry and cherry.
An alternative to carbonated soft drinks and very popular in the United States, iced tea makes up about 85% of all tea consumed. It can readily be found in restaurants, convenience stores, vending machines, grocery stores and self-serve soda fountains.
Recipes for iced tea have been found dating back to the 1870′s. The Buckeye Cookbook, published in 1876 and Housekeeping in Old Virginia, published in 1877 both contain iced tea recipes. It is believed however, that iced tea started to appear in the United States in the 1860′s and became widespread in the 1870′s where it was found offered on hotel menus and was on sale at railroad stations. The popularity of this refreshing drink grew rapidly after it was introduced at the 1904 World’s Fair in St. Louis.
“Tea has been historically promoted for having a variety of positive health benefits. Recent human studies suggest that green tea may help reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease and some forms of cancer, promote oral health, reduce blood pressure, help with weight control, improve antibacterial and antivirasic activity, provide protection from solar ultraviolet light, increase bone mineral density, and have “anti-fibrotic properties, and neuroprotective power.” (Wikipedia)
Enjoy a nice TALL glass of iced tea today !!
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