Cool Down with a Delicious Glass of Iced Tea

Drinking a cold beverage is a great way to beat the summer heat. While soda and processed fruit juices may seem like excellent choices, they are not healthy at all. In fact, they are loaded with unhealthy ingredients like high fructose corn syrup (HFCS), chemicals, and preservatives.

Pure and clear water is actually the perfect drink for your body, but there are times when you crave something more flavorful but equally refreshing. Here's a great idea: why not make a delicious iced tea?

Tea is made by seeping the leaves of the Camellia sinensis plant in hot water. The Camellia sinensis plant is native to China and India, which is why Asia is considered the birthplace of tea and the tea ceremony.

There are many types of tea available today. The most well-known varieties are green, black, white, and oolong tea. These are all made from the Camellia sinensis tea leaves, only varying according to their degree of fermentation.

Aside from the Camellia sinensis tea varieties, there are also herbal teas that are made from herbs, flowers, and even well-known spices. One example is tulsi tea. A common beverage in India, tulsi tea is made using the leaves of the tulsi or holy basil plant, which is a revered herb in Ayurveda, India's ancient holistic system.

Tulsi tea is loved not only by Indians, but also by people from all over the world. It can be used either in its tea bag form or as loose tea leaves. Look for it in your local Indian store or in the Asian section of your local grocery.

Whether you're making iced Camellia sinensis tea or iced herbal tea like tulsi tea, there are a few important factors you need to consider to make your drink refreshing and tasty.
* Don't scrimp on the tea. Remember, serving any food or drink cold dulls its flavor. If possible, use as much as two teabags or three teaspoons of tea leaves for every three cups of water.
* Avoid oversteeping. It's a common misconception that steeping the tea longer brings out more of its flavor. This is not true. In fact, oversteeping brings out the tannis from the tea, which turns it into a bitter beverage. It is better to add more teabags or leaves instead of oversteeping the tea.
* When sweetening your tea, add the sugar before adding the cold water. This will dissolve the sugar grains better. Make sure you use minimal amounts of sugar, though. Opt for raw honey or stevia.
* Let the tea cool before refrigerating it. Otherwise, the tea will become cloudy.
* Use real and fresh ingredients. For example, use freshly-squeezed lemon juice instead of artificial lemon flavoring. Many artificial ingredients usually contain unwanted chemicals and preservatives.
* Fresh iced tea is the best iced tea. Iced tea that is stored longer than three days may no longer taste good. Only make tea enough for two or three days.

Stop drinking unhealthy sodas and processed juice drinks! Make your own delicious iced tea, and you will surely fall in love with this beverage.

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Keywords: tulsi

By: Candelaria Borders

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