National Iced Tea Month

National Iced Tea Month celebrates iced tea throughout the month of June. The beverage may be sweetened or unsweetened, flavored with lemon or fruit, or prepared using black, green, oolong, white, or herbal tea. According to tea writer T Ching, the Tea Association of the USA began Iced Tea Month in 1994 as part of efforts to promote tea awareness and engage tea lovers. T Ching notes that the month’s commercial beginnings do not account for iced tea’s earlier place in American food culture.

Iced tea recipes appeared in American cookbooks by the 1870s, including a sweet iced tea recipe published in Housekeeping in Old Virginia in 1879. A frequently repeated story credits the 1904 St. Louis World’s Fair with helping popularize iced tea: Richard Blechynden reportedly chilled brewed tea through ice-cooled pipes after fairgoers showed little interest in hot tea during the summer heat. However, iced tea recipes predated the fair, so Blechynden’s role is better understood as one of popularization rather than invention. The Nibble and TeaTime Magazine describe the beverage’s earlier recipes and the uncertain status of the World’s Fair account.

How to Observe National Iced Tea Month

Celebrate by brewing iced tea at home and pouring it over ice. Try a different tea or flavor, such as lemon or fresh fruit, or experiment with cold brew and other styles of chilled tea. You can also invite friends to an iced tea gathering and serve several varieties for everyone to compare. T Ching suggests trying a new flavor throughout the month, experimenting with different cold-tea styles, and planning an iced tea party.

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