June is National Iced Tea Month in the U.S.
By Cal Orey
It picks you up and calms you down, warms you and refreshes you.
With black, white red, green, and herbal varieties, there’s a tea for every
taste, and now this time-honored superfood is trending as the drink of choice
for health-conscious people of all ages and cultures.
Spring
It’s
the Season: Once winter days are
almost over, it’s time for renewal and to make your home and body lighter for
warmer days ahead. It’s common for me to brew a pot of white tea in the
afternoon and a chamomile flower blend at night to welcome sleep during the
Daylight Savings Time change. Healthful sandwiches paired with teas, vegetarian
entrees, and green salads with tea-infused dressings come into play. It’s the
ideal time to shed extra unwanted pandemic winter pounds and get a move on with
lighter fare.
Healing
Seasonal Teas: Detoxifying
green tea and citrus tea (hot or iced) are popular during this time of
lightening up. Organic spring jasmine, chamomile citrus, organic white peony,
and rooibos blends are superb springtime teas that are perfect for the season
of fresh beginnings. Superfoods with Tea: Apricots, artichokes, carrots,
and spinach.
Summer
It’s
the Season: Summer is a time to
get a light touch and change of linens, clothes, opened screen windows, and
fresh air, it’s time I relax in the morning with a cup of flavored black tea
(for the caffeine boost) so I can get more physical and be more active in the
longer days and nights of summertime. Iced tea makes a splash during this
season of sun and frolic. Brewing black tea and infusing it with fresh citrus
including limes, oranges, and lemons, in a pitcher filled with ice is a
must-have. Pairing a glass of iced tea with summer fruit mini scones or
cucumber tea sandwiches and fresh vegetable and fresh fruit salads to grilled
fish is ideal.
Healing
Seasonal Teas: Fruit teas (such as
blackberry and strawberry), white peony with fruit notes, and iced black tea
are summer favorites to help the body cool down and feel energized. Other
fruity profiles include blood orange, citrus hibiscus herbal, mango black,
and peach fruit teas are ideal for the summertime. Superfoods with Tea:
Blueberries, peaches, pineapple, and tomatoes.
Iced Tea with Citrus and
Mint
This recipe is
California-inspired from when I was in my twenties and lived in Fresno, a
farming region in the central state where orange groves are plentiful. During
the hot summer afternoons I’d drink iced orange pekoe -- a grade of orthodox black tea -- to get energized o I could enjoy riding a
ten-speed bicycle accompanied by my soulmate with paws, a young and healthy
black Labrador retriever, Stone Fox, who had dark brown soulful eyes and a
smile to melt your heart. He’d run free through orange groves, and we’d race
until we were whooped. From my backpack, I’d treat myself to cold tea in a
plastic container and let my dog drink water from a hose or fountain outdoors
to refresh ourselves.
4 cups water (fresh
tap or filtered)
5 tea bags, orange pekoe
Granulated white sugar
or honey to taste
Lemon or orange slices
Fresh mint
Bring 2 cups water to
boil and pour it over tea bags. Cover and brew 3 to 5 minutes. Remove tea bags
and add 2 cups cold water. Stir. Pour into chilled, ice filled tea mugs. Add
sugar or honey to taste. Garnish with lemon slices and mint. Serves 4.
Excerpt from The Healing Powers of Tea 2018.
All right reserved. Reprinted with permission from Kensington www.kensingtonbooks.com
Cal Orey, M.A. Is an author and journalist. Her books include the
Healing Powers Series (Vinegar, Olive Oil, Chocolate, Honey, Coffee, Tea,
Superfoods, Essential Oils, and Herbs and Spices) published by Kensington. (The
collection has been featured by the Good Cook Book Club.) Her website is http://www.calorey.com.
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