by Danielle Beaudette

About half of the American population drinks tea each day and about 85% of this tea is iced. Globally, tea is the most widely consumed beverage, only second to water. So it is no surprise that the food celebration calendars have dedicated the month of June as National Iced Tea Month!

During the summer months we tend to be more health conscious and we pay even closer attention to the foods and beverages we are consuming. While it may be easier to reach for the ready-to-drink (RTD) bottled, teas, be cautious of the higher calories and lower flavonoid (antioxidant) content. The RTD teas and powdered teas contain approximately 1/5 of the flavonoids of freshly brewed teas.

Consume what’s good for you, and begin with freshly brewed tea using loose tea leaves. Visit your local farmer’s markets and pick up fresh herbs such as peppermint, lemon grass, lemon verbena, or lavender, and use them to spice up your tea. Or try blending your favorite tea with fresh fruit (to increase the level of antioxidants) and ice cubes for a frosty iced tea smoothie! This summer, if you find yourself wilting under extreme heat and humidity, cool off by brewing up one of these revitalizing and icy cold teas and tisanes!

Read the complete article (and get some iced tea recipes) that appeared in Applaud Women Magazine here.