How to Make Your Own Natural Iced Teas

As the temperatures are climbing into the "HOT" zone, everybody everywhere is looking for ways to stay Cool. The AC is turned up and this year's latest bathing suits are being bought up with incredible speed. But what cools the best, from the inside out, is a tall, cool drink, with plenty of ice and maybe even a little parasol sticking out on top. Below are some delicious, different, but simple recipes for some iced cold homemade tea - some of which are going to become your favorites.

Here are a few pointers when choosing your tea:

Green tea is milder and is a good anti-oxidant.
Black or Pekoe tea is a darker, fuller flavor tea.
Essiak tea is actually a mixture of teas, with a robust flavor; darker in color.
Flavored teas are good teas and there are plenty of them out there, medium in taste and very flexible. Celestial Seasoning makes some great flavors!

Minty Iced Tea
Brew 2 bags of green tea or set 5 bags in a quart of filtered water and place in the sun for a few hours. (Sun tea) Then pour tea into a tall glass and add either a few drops of spearmint or peppermint flavoring or crush a few leaves of fresh spearmint into glass. Add 2 teaspoons honey and ice cubes.
Hint: spearmint is very easy grown and makes your porch or kitchen smell delightful while it grows. Try some.

Peach Iced Tea
Brew either Black tea, green tea, or essiak tea like above. Pour tea into glass and add 2 oz. of Peach schnapps. Add 2 teaspoons honey and stir. Add ice cubes.
Garnish with spearmint leaves, or lemon or lime slice.

Traditional Long Island Iced Tea - beware, this one is an Adult version!
2oz Tequila
2oz Vodka
2oz Gin
2oz light bourbon
Either lemon mix or (2Tbls. sugar dissolved in 1/8 cup water, with juice of ½ lemon)
Shake or stir briskly. Pour over ice in a tall glass. Add a splash of Coke for color. Garnish with slice of lime. Colored parasol if you have one!
Uuummmmm........

Fruit flavored Iced Tea - this version can be tried with whatever type fruit is in season. I'm going to use raspberries!
Choose a tea that will compliment the fruit you choose. I selected Rasberry/Lemon flavored. (sounds refreshing already, doesn't it?)

A few hours prior - chop a piece or two of your fruit into tiny pieces. Then we are going to add 1 pint of water to the fruit pieces and pour into ice cube trays. In a few short hours you will have frozen fruit cubes for your tea!
Brew your tea - either by the boiling method or Sun tea. Pour raspberry/lemon tea into tall glass. Add 2 teaspoons honey, and a few spearmint leaves and stir. Fill with your fruit cubes and garnish with a raspberry or two on top! Delicious!

You can see how easy it is to stay cool adn enjoy yourself while you're at it! So create your own specialty tea or try one of these.........either way, stay relaxed during these Hot summer months!