Summer time is here and that means warm weather, picnics, patio dining and more! I love warm weather and all of the fun foods and drinks that come with it. Growing up in the south led me to love a warm weather drink – iced tea. When I was younger I would always notice big glass jars of ice tea brewing on neighbors’ front porches. It seems you couldn’t drive down a street without seeing someone making their iced tea for the day in the warm summer sunshine.

Fast forward more years than I’d like to admit and I am now one of those nutty people who puts a big jar of iced tea out on the back porch. People have been putting tea out in the sun for years and I bet most people don’t even know why they do it. At this point, brewing iced tea in the sun is more tradition than function. It is thought that people started brewing iced tea outside to keep from heating up the kitchen in the heat of the summer. The gentle heat of the sun is also supposed to brew the tea without destroying the flavor. Even if it is just for fun, I still brew iced tea outside.

There are lots of recipes for making iced tea. Some are flavored and some are herbal. I’m a huge fan of iced peppermint tea. I cheat and just use tea bags but it think it sure tastes great. Since today is National Iced Tea Day it seems like the perfect day to pull the big glass jar back out and try one of my favorites. I think I will go with my favorite – peppermint iced tea. It’s yummy and inexpensive to make. I really could drink it every day during the warm summer weather. When I make my peppermint tea, I make it unsweetened. I like it that way, but anyone who wants to can add a bit of sugar or sweetener to their glass. Yum! I need to make this now.

Want to make some iced tea to celebrate? Here is one basic iced tea recipe and a few ideas to change it up. If you try it, let us know how you like it. Have another favorite recipe for making iced tea? Share that with us. We love to hear from you!

Sweet Tea

Makes 2 Quarts

Ingredients:

1 pinch baking soda

2 cups boiling water

6 tea bags

3/4 cup white sugar

6 cups cool water

Directions:

Sprinkle a pinch of baking soda into a 64-ounce, heat-proof, glass pitcher.

Pour in boiling water, and add tea bags.

Cover, and allow to steep for 15 minutes.

Remove tea bags, and discard; stir in sugar until dissolved.

Pour in cool water, then refrigerate until cold.

Sweet Lime Iced Tea

You can change this recipe up and add the juice of four limes. You’ll have Sweet Lime Iced Tea! Yum!

Boston Iced Tea

Again just add something to the above recipe – add cranberry juice to taste and you’ll have a yummy Boston Iced Tea.