Iced tea

Iced tea is a refreshing category of beverage served cold. While many people serve it in a glass with ice, the term refers to any tea that has been chilled. Most iced teas derive their flavor from the leaves of the *Camellia sinensis* plant. However, herbal teas are also frequently served cold under this same name.

A drinker may choose to enjoy the tea unsweetened. Many others prefer to add sugar or syrup for sweetness. In many commercial versions, fruit-flavored syrups like lemon or peach are added to the mix.

There are several specific methods used to prepare this drink. One traditional method is called sun tea. To make this, a person places tea leaves or bags into a large glass container of water. The container is then left in the sun for approximately one hour. This long steeping at a lower temperature can result in a smoother flavor. This method saves energy because it does not require electricity or fuel. However, the sun may not reach a high enough temperature to kill all bacteria.

If the tea looks thick or contains rope-like strands, it should be discarded.

Because of the bacterial risks with sun tea, some people use refrigerator tea. This method involves brewing the tea in a refrigerator overnight. This provides the dual advantage of preventing harmful bacteria from growing. It also ensures the tea is already cold without needing extra ice. Another way to serve the drink is through fountain dispensers. These machines are often found in restaurants to serve fresh-brewed tea. In 1996, health officials in Cincinnati found high levels of coliform bacteria in some of these dispensers. This discovery led many companies to switch to using tea concentrates instead of fresh brewing.

Iced tea has a long and documented history. As early as 1823, Marguerite, the Countess of Blessington, wrote about sipping iced tea in Naples. The first printed recipes for the drink appeared in cookbooks during the 1870s. For example, the *Buckeye Cookbook* by Estelle Woods Wilcox was published in 1876. Another early source was *Housekeeping in Old Virginia* in 1878. In the United States, iced tea began appearing in the 1860s. It was initially seen as a novelty, but it became widespread during the 1870s. Its popularity grew rapidly after Richard Blechynden introduced it at the 1904 World's Fair in St. Louis.

Different regions have developed unique ways to enjoy iced tea. In the United States, iced tea accounts for about 85% of all tea consumed. Southern states often serve a heavily sweetened version known as sweet tea. In New England, the tea is usually more moderately sweetened and often includes mint.

In Vietnam, strong iced tea is an integral part of street culture. In South America, the mate tea is usually served hot in Argentina and Uruguay. However, in the center-west and southeast of Brazil, it is often consumed iced. In Paraguay, this iced version is called Tereré.

Industrial production changed how the world accesses the drink. In 1983, Bischofszell Food Ltd. became the first company to produce bottled iced tea on an industrial scale. This happened after two employees, Ruedi Bärlocher and Martin Sprenger, suggested the idea. In China, the availability of iced tea grew alongside refrigeration. In 1977, only 7% of urban families owned a refrigerator. By 2009, that number rose to 95%. This made it much easier for families to store and drink chilled tea. In South Africa, brands like BOS use locally sourced rooibos from the Western Cape.

Finally, iced tea is often mixed with other beverages to create new flavors. A famous example is the "half-and-half" drink. This is a mixture of iced tea and lemonade. It became popular in the United States during the late 1960s. The drink is often called an "Arnold Palmer." This name comes from the golfer who ordered the mixture in Palm Beach, Florida. Palmer preferred a ratio of two parts iced tea to one part lemonade. Today, many companies market this specific blend to fans of the classic drink.