Beat the Heat and Rehydrate with Iced Tea (BONUS: How to make your own!)
What’s better than kicking back under the hot summer sun and enjoying life? Adding a tall glass of America’s favorite iced tea! But the iconic warm-weather drink of choice is so much more than your average beverage; aside from the countless health benefits that drinking tea provides, enjoying iced tea this summer is extra nice because it hydrates your body and mind. Research also suggests that it might even promote weight loss and help you fight to age.
Benefits of Drinking Ice Tea
Hydration. Many people struggle to drink their daily recommended amount of water. (In fact, according to the CDC, over 40% of Americans don’t drink enough!) We get that. But you know what can help solve that problem? Drinking iced tea!
Iced tea consumption counts towards your water intake so you can enjoy every tasty sip guilt-free knowing you’re fueling your body. This is especially helpful when you’re sitting outside getting a tan, which subsequently dehydrates your body and could cause damage to your skin. Proper hydration helps your skin glow and softens facial wrinkles.
Weight management. If you’re careful about how you sweeten it, tea can be the best calorie-free drink you’ll ever indulge in. Research from the University of Washington even suggested that beverages containing caffeine and catechins (like in a yummy green tea) can help curb cravings!
Want more reasons? A study in the International Journal of Obesity found that drinking a very cold beverage increased resting energy expenditure for over 40 minutes after consumption. This means you could be burning calories long after your last sip!
Quick Tips to Choose a Healthy Iced Tea
The key to choosing the perfect iced tea is to find the ones that naturally match your tastes.
For example, if you want to indulge in fruity and sweet flavors — without having to add sugar to make it artificially sweet — try our Summer Peach Iced Tea, which won the award for “Best Flavored Black Iced Tea” at the 2013 World Tea Expo. Delight in the fusion of sweet, sun-ripened peaches delicately grounded by the crisp, bright after-notes of our organic Classic Black tea.
For something tangier and more tart, sip on our Green Pomegranate Iced Tea, which won the award for “Best Flavored Iced Tea!” We hand-toss select organic green tea leaves in a large wok, dry them to perfection, and then carefully blend them with organic raspberries and essence of pomegranate.
How To Make Healthy Iced Tea
Making a great iced tea has never been easier! Just follow the instructions on our tea and enjoy it!
But if you’re not quite sure how to get started, feel free to follow this guide and make it the night before you plan to partake in its tasty goodness.
What You Need:
- 3 Tablespoons of the tea of your choice
- ½ gallon Mason jar
- Warmed spring or Purified water
Add 3 tablespoons of your tea to the jar. Fill your mason jar with warm water (not boiling). Stir. Close the lid tightly and place this jar in your refrigerator.
When you are ready to drink, add ice to a glass and simply pour the tea over a strainer and into your glass. Now you have a delicious, healthy, and refreshing iced tea!
Want to try it with a twist? Slice oranges, berries, or any fruit and layer the fruit with your ice in a glass and pour tea into your flavor-infused cup. You could also opt to add fresh mint, ginger, cardamom, and cinnamon sticks for other flavor bursts. (Or try any of our natural, flavor-infused iced teas listed above!)
Iced tea is the preferred healthy summer drink of choice. It hydrates your body and is full of antioxidants and other properties that can provide countless health boosts. Find your summertime favorite and enjoy!
Shop Art of TeaMake the most out of your summer with Art of Tea! Check out drinks, recipes, and more here.