THE LONG LIFE OF TEA

THE LONG LIFE OF TEA

Iced tea is more than just a drink - for many, it's an art form. The first ice tea was introduced to the masses on a hot day at the World's Fair quite by accident. In 1904, Richard Blechynden iced down his hot tea to sell it more effectively and a new craze was born. Of course, some households had been serving iced tea for decades previous to this, particularly in the Southern United States, but once iced tea was sampled by thousands in St. Louis, the beverage became an instant favorite.

SIMPLE ICED TEA

There are many ways to make iced tea, but the simplest is to mix commercially available powered tea into water, chill and drink. Those who pride themselves on their tea, however, would never dream of making the concoction in this way.

Most make iced tea in much the same way as hot tea. Water is boiled and tea bags are steeped. Only in most cases, you make an entire pot of tea rather than just a cup. The tea is diluted and allowed to cool, or the strong mixture is poured hot over ice to dilute and cool at the same time. Iced tea is served over ice and usually garnished with a lemon.

SWEET TEA

In the South and anywhere patrons enjoy presweetened drinks, sweet tea is often as available as unsweetened. Sweet tea is made hot, but then sugar is added to the hot mixture. When the tea is diluted and cooled, the sweet flavor, and often a few extra garnishes such as lemon, mint or raspberries make sweet tea a refreshing treat.

Like many food items, there are a great number of recipes for sweet tea that are carefully guarded and copied by generations of families. Even some restaurants bring customers back time and time again thanks to their special sweet tea. In most cases, however, even if unsweetened tea is the only available choice, it is sweetened by the individual using sugar or artificial sweeteners.

THE ART OF ICED TEA

In some circles, iced tea is as prized as a secret family recipe. Recipes for iced tea date back to 1879, and the beverage was likely served for years prior to that. In the south, iced tea is called Southern table wine simply because it is served so often and considered such a sort of pride.

If you come calling on a hot day, you're as likely to be offered a glass of iced tea as you are a soda. Given the chance, you should always opt for the tea. Not only is it more cool and refreshing, it is also an excellent source of antioxidants and natural flavors.

There is nothing unnatural about iced tea until artificial sweeteners are added. Select any kind of tea, although black tea is most often used, and brew up a pitcher for yourself. You'll quickly discover that once you make the switch to iced tea, it's very hard to go back.

HEALTHY TEA

For thousands of years, tea has been used for any number of medicinal purposes. Even today, tea is used to improve and protect our health. Unfortunately, many who could benefit from the healthy boosting antioxidants and natural ingredients in a fine tea find that drinking a hot glass of tea, or even iced tea, doesn't fit their lifestyle or suit their taste. Fortunately, there are now more ways than ever to get the healthy benefits of tea without boiling kettles of water or dainty teacups.

HEALTHY TEA - ON THE GO

If there's anything we love in our modern society of haste, it's a powerful drink we can grab on the go. Long have soda can and bottled water been mainstay of those seeking a cold drink while in the car or on the bus, but in recent years, many more beverages have been offered in neatly prepackaged containers that are not only delicious, but good for you. Many are surprised to learn just how beneficial a can of tea or fruit juice concoction can be. Now with so many interesting flavors and combinations of ready-to-drink teas, drinks to take on the go have a greater variety than ever.

THE NUTRITIONAL VALUE OF TEA

Within teas, there are many different kinds, but almost all teas have nutritional and health values. Green teas are considered by many to be the healthiest, but all teas contain antioxidants. Antioxidants found in teas are called catechins, and catechins, like all antioxidants battle free radicals and repair damaged cells within the body. This promotes good health and may even prevent cancer.

When the goodness of tea is combined with fruit, there are even more natural health benefits. The tea blends smoothly with the fruit components creating a drink which is mild yet flavorful, full of vitamins, minerals and those all important antioxidants. There are precious few beverages which can claim to refresh your thirst, boost your vitamin intake, give you energy and fight cancer in a single serving.

Tea is an ancient beverage, yet one with very modern health benefits. It's likely the health benefits of tea are even more valuable now than they were a few centuries ago. After being consumed for more than four thousand years, tea has changed very little - until now. It's been served hot, it's been served cold. But now tea is being served in a style that suits the most frantic lifestyle - you can get it to go.

TEA CAKES!

Nothing goes better with a cup of tea than a few tea cakes. Long a favorite around the globe, tea cakes are a sweet treat enjoyed by adults and children alike. Different countries and customs have different styles of cakes, but the tea cakes we're most familiar with resemble small versions of traditional cakes, but designed to be a light tea complemented by hot black or grey tea.