A CUPPA COOL

A toast to National Iced Tea Month

You don’t have to be a tea lover to appreciate the refreshing qualities of a cold glass of iced tea.

And, given June is National Iced Tea Month, there’s never been a better time to celebrate the refreshing goodness and awesome health benefits of this drink.

Whether you prefer black, green, oolong, white tea or herbal, iced tea is a delicious choice, widely available, inexpensive and easy to make at home by the glass or pitcher, from tea bags or loose leaf tea.

Tea fits into a healthy lifestyle. A recent Nielsen Happy Healthy Home survey revealed that, along with drinking tea, more than half of Canadians say they’re eating healthier than they used to.

According to the Tea and Herbal Association of Canada (a leading authority and industry voice on all things tea), the secret to tea’s health benefits can be found in the flavonoids — dietary compounds found naturally in plants that protect the body through antioxidant activity. A good cuppa is good for you!

Louise Roberge, a certified Tac Tea sommelier and president of the association, says tea continues to be the great refresher because “consumers understand that teas are a healthier alternative to sugarsweetened beverages.”

And, although tea is considered a hot beverage, cold continues to be as popular as ever: “Since tea is 99.5 per cent water, it can count toward your fluid intake for the day. (But) what it has over water is that it is available in a variety of flavours, to fit everyone’s taste.”

My personal iced tea favourite is mint — breaks a summer’s heat in just one gulp! What’s yours?

For more info, check out Tea.ca.