Happy National Iced Tea Day!
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By DERON SNYDER (for SRB Communications)
June 10 is National Iced Tea Day, though some people call the beloved beverage “ice tea” or “sweet tea.”
The latter might seem odd because so many establishments only offer unsweetened versions and suggest adding sugar if desired. And then there’s “lemonade tea,” which must have its biggest fan in Arnold Palmer, the legendary golfer whose name is also the concoction’s alias.
Some folks prefer iced tea that’s infused with the flavor of peaches, raspberries or other fruits … if not something stronger. Records of alcohol-drenched iced teas date to the Colonial era. According to liquor historian David Wondrich, the recipe for a popular punch in 1815 called for green tea with citrus juice, sugar, champagne, brandy, rum and a rum-like liquor from South Asia. That drink stands in contrast to the famously boozy Long Island iced tea, which contrary to its name contains no tea.
According to the Tea Association of the USA, tea is present in more than 80% of American households. Of the 86 billion servings that Americans consumed last year, roughly 77% was iced. No figures on how much was traced to actor/rapper Ice-T, who two years ago marked the drink’s holiday by serving customers at a Raising Cane’s Chicken Fingers in Phoenix.
Whether brewed from scratch or poured from a bottle, iced tea has gone from a summertime treat to a year-round staple, with a national day of recognition. Enjoy!
