How to Celebrate National Iced Tea Month

Traditional Iced Tea

June is National Iced Tea Month. Legend has it that a tea vendor at the 1904 World's Fair in St. Louis popularized the drink. When visitors to the sweltering event turned down free hot tea, he ran it through iced pipes to chill the beverage. Word quickly spread about his cold tea. Iced tea can be brewed from loose tea, made from instant or bagged tea or purchased ready to drink in bottles and cans. Unsweetened, it is a low calorie cooling drink. Read on for tips and refreshing ways to enjoy a chilled glass of tea.

Things You'll Need

• Tea
• Ice
• Tall glass
• Tall spoon
• Garnishes as desired

Instructions

1. Live the legend. Stroll through a fair, exposition or festival. Walk the exhibits, visit marvelous gardens and enjoy the gadget shows. Like the World's Fair visitors, slake your thirst with vendor iced tea.

2. 

   Brew your favorite tea double-strength to allow for ice cube dilution. Store the brewed tea in a refrigerator jug for quick tea drinks. The tea is pre-cooled and only needs ice for instant serving.

3. 

   Freeze unsweetened iced tea in cube trays. Use green, black or oolong tea for cubes. Add the cubes to punch, lemonade or tea. For a twist, put lemon rind in ice cube trays and freeze lemonade for tea cubes. Freeze mint leaves in the cubes for color and taste.

4. 

   Garnish iced tea with mint sprig or lemon slice. Float an orange or lime slice on the ice. For more festive garnishes, use toothpicks or cocktail picks to skewer strawberries, blueberries and other small fruit. Edible flowers are fun toppers.

5. 

   Create a specialty iced tea dessert. Make a float by pouring iced tea into a glass and adding a scoop of vanilla ice cream. Top with whipped cream if desired. Slice fresh fruits like peaches or apricots into dessert bowls. Pour iced tea over the fruit and garnish with berries. Blend iced tea with cranberry juice. Serve over crushed ice in tall glasses and garnish with mint sprig or orange slice. Get your tea skills brewing and have a great time celebrating Iced Tea Month.