By Jeanni Ritchie
June 10 is National Iced Tea Day, the unofficial beverage of the South. Whether you like yours sweet or unsweet, with lemons or combined with lemonade, pour yourself a big glass and check out these random facts about iced tea!
- Iced tea is the second most popular beverage in the world, following water
- The oldest tea dates to 453BC
- Recipes for iced tea have been found dating back to the 1860’s
- Hotels and railroads began offering iced tea on their beverage menus in the 1870’s
- In 1904, the iced tea was introduced at the World’s Fair in St. Louis by a tea merchant who added ice to his hot tea during a heat wave
- Pools across the country filled up with tea in 1976-1977 as consumers took the “Nestea Plunge”
- A viral TikTok trend created by Hishamraus Restaurant amassed over 17 million views and encouraged viewers to cold-steep Lipton Black Tea in Sprite
- The US population consumes nearly 50 billion glasses of iced tea per year
I’m pretty sure during my 3rd pregnancy I drank half of those!
HOW TO OBSERVE NATIONAL ICED TEA DAY
- Brew and enjoy a glass of iced tea with friends. With so many ways to brew iced tea, it’s become more convenient than ever, too.
- Create your favorite flavors by adding mint, lemon or fruit.
- Visit various restaurants and enjoy a glass of iced tea. Make a comparison to see who has the best home brew.
- Are you looking for iced tea deals to celebrate? Bojangles, McAlister’s Deli, Numi Organic Tea, Starbucks, QuikTrip, and Love’s Travel Stops have special offers on June 10 at participating locations.
- Bake Tea-Infused Treats: Experiment with tea-infused recipes such as matcha cookies, Earl Grey-infused cakes, or chai-spiced muffins. Enjoy the delightful flavors and aromas as you indulge in these homemade treats.
- Organize a Tea-inspired Movie Night: Pick your favorite tea-themed movies or films set in tea-drinking cultures, such as “The Joy Luck Club” or “The Darjeeling Limited.” Prepare some snacks and, of course, a pot of tea, and settle in for a cozy movie night filled with tea-centric entertainment.
- While enjoying your iced tea, be sure to share on social media using the hashtag #NationalIcedTeaDay.
Jeanni Ritchie is a journalist from Central Louisiana. She can be reached at jeanniritchie54@gmail.com.