June Is National Iced Tea Month

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.
The resulting cool, refreshing beverage was a hit and the iced drink became popular throughout the United States.

Iced tea is traditionally served with lemon slice used as a garnish, which is often placed on the rim of the glass.
In the Southwest United States (or at least in restaurants with a Southwest theme), lime is also very popular (especially in Mexican restaurants).
It is proper to always call it iced tea rather than ice tea. Tea with ice in it is an iced beverage.I
In the South, the word iced is often eliminated, and is simply known as sweet tea.

Sweet tea dates back to the late 19th century when the following recipe was published in Housekeeping in Old Virginia.
 After scalding the teapot, put into it one quart of boiling water and two teaspoonfuls green tea. If wanted for supper, do this at breakfast. At dinner time, strain, without stirring, through a tea strainer into a pitcher. Let it stand till tea time and pour into decanters, leaving the sediment in the bottom of the pitcher. Fill the goblets with ice, put two teaspoonfuls granulated sugar in each, and pour the tea over the ice and sugar. A squeeze of lemon will make this delicious and healthful, as it will correct the astringent tendency.

A LITTLE HISTORY Because 19th-century general stores stocked mostly green tea from China or Japan, many early recipes called for green tea. But, after World War II, when green tea was scarce, black tea from India became the basis for this popular brew.

DID YOU KNOW...
It is not uncommon for a Southerner to drink  iced tea ( sweet tea) all throughout the day ...for breakfast , lunch , dinner and with a snack! 


PATRICIA NEELY-DORSEY
Reflections of a Mississippi Magnolia-A Life in Poems
" a celebration of the south and things southern
"Meet Mississippi Through Poetry, Prose and The Written Word"