10th June: National Iced Tea Day

National Iced Tea Day is observed annually on June 10th.  This day is set aside to celebrate one of summer’s favorite drinks.  Whether it is sweetened or unsweetened, with or without lemon, it is loved by many and enjoyed by the glass full all summer long.

When is National Beverage Day?

Iced tea can be found in many flavors including lemon, peach, raspberry, lime, passions fruit, strawberry, and cherry.

Health benefits

• Reducing the risk of cardiovascular disease
• Some forms of cancer
• Oral health
• Reduce blood pressure
• Weight control
• Antibacterial and antiviral activity
• Protection from solar ultraviolet light
• Anti-fibrotic properties
• Neuroprotective power

When is World Health Day?

History

Recipes for iced tea have been found dating back to the 1870s. The Buckeye Cookbook, published in 1876, and Housekeeping in Old Virginia, published in 1877, both contain iced tea recipes. It is believed, however, that iced tea started to appear in the United States in the 1860s and became widespread in the 1870s. During that time, hotels offered iced tea on their menus and railroad stations offered the beverage as well. In 1904, the beverage was introduced at the World’s Fair in St. Louis causing its popularity to explode.