#Cold Beverages

[yourstrulylightstar283]

These look pretty and delicious! ^^

[poonamcmi]

Iced Tea: A Refreshing Summer Beverage

Origins and History of Cold tea Cold tea has its roots from the early 19th century when it was introduced in the United States. Tea drinking was a common British tradition which was brought to America by early settlers. In the hot summers of the southern United States, people started consuming unsweetened brewed tea that was poured over ice cubes to keep it cool. This is considered as one of the earliest records of cold tea being consumed in America. The tradition continued to grow and cold tea became a signature summer drink across the country.

Preparing Traditional Unsweetened Cold tea

Traditional unsweetened cold tea is prepared by brewing black tea leaves in hot water. For each quart of water, use one tablespoon of loose black tea leaves or three tea bags. Bring the water to a boil and then remove it from heat. Steep the tea for 5-7 minutes to extract maximum flavor. Iced Tea Once brewed, pour the tea through a strainer into a pitcher filled with ice. For a stronger tea flavor, you can steep it for a bit longer. Add lemon slices or fresh mint leaves for extra flavor. Simple syrup or sugar can also be added according to taste preference but traditionally unsweetened tea is served without any added sweeteners.

Variations with Herbal Teas and Flavored Syrups

While black tea is most commonly used, people have gotten creative with various tea varieties and flavors. Herbal teas like hibiscus, sage and rooibos offer fruity and aromatic flavors when brewed and served over ice. Fruit-flavored simple syrups infused with oranges, berries or peaches add natural sweetness and taste. Passion fruit, mango and lychee syrups have become quite popular flavor choices in recent times. Matcha green tea is another option that is gaining popularity for its rich texture and intense flavor when iced. Experimenting with different tea varieties and flavors allows one to discover new preferences.

Cold tea in Popular Culture

Across the United States, sweet Iced Tea has become embedded in popular culture and is associated with the South. It is commonly served at restaurants alongside meals in pint glasses filled to the brim with ice. The beverage is prominently featured in Southern comedy films and television shows depicting hot summer days. Lipton Brisk and Arizona are some of the major mass-produced brands of sweet tea available nationwide in bottles and cans. While unsweetened tea may have been its origins, it is now more commonly enjoyed sweetened and served abundantly cold like a soft drink. Cold tea permeates cultural depictions of Southern culture and lifestyle.

Decorating and Presenting Iced Tea

beyond the basic tea, ice and glass, a bit of creativity can make cold tea more appealing and fun to drink. Rip up fresh mint leaves and scatter them gracefully over ice cubes before pouring tea for an invigorating aroma. Slice fruits like oranges, peaches, watermelon or berries directly into glasses filled with tea and ice for an instant infusion of flavor. Citrus wheels or slices look lovely floating on top. Garnish rims of glasses with sugar or cinnamon for added texture. Consider using glass tea jars, Mason jars or pitcher to serve cold tea communally for decorative appeal. Presentation elevates the humble beverage as a refreshing drink that is also an experience for the senses.

Health Benefits of Drinking Cold tea Regular consumption of cold tea, especially when prepared with black or herbal varieties, provides notable health advantages. Tea contains powerful antioxidants called polyphenols that protect cells from damage. One of the main polyphenols is flavonoids like catechins which studies suggest may reduce risks of chronic diseases. Cold tea hydrates the body in summer while infusing it with antioxidants. Black tea has been linked to boosting metabolism, reducing inflammation and protecting cardiovascular health. Herbal options like hibiscus impart benefits ranging from lowering blood pressure to aiding digestion. Excess sugar consumed with sweetened varieties negates these benefits, so opting for unsweetened or lightly sweetened tea is recommended for overall health.

Serving Cold tea Year-Round While cold tea is quintessentially a summer thirst quencher enjoyed cold, with a few adaptations it can easily be appreciated through other seasons as well. In winter, lightly steaming hot brewed tea before cooling and adding ice makes for a comforting warm-cold combination. Spcold teas like chai or masala work well this way. For fall, stone fruits like peaches pair wonderfully in chilled tea. In spring, floral herbal blends uplift refreshed palates. Tea stays good refrigerated for a couple days, making it easy to brew a large batch and enjoy chilled anytime. Whether sweet or unsweetened, flavored creatively or traditional, cold tea remains a versatile anytime beverage.

Iced Tea has become a ubiquitous summer drink in America with origins from early tea drinking traditions. Simple to prepare at home with black tea leaves or experimenting with tasty tea varieties and flavors, it offers enjoyment for all occasions throughout the year. Cold tea has firmly cemented its place in Southern culture and lifestyle while also bringing notable health benefits from its antioxidant-rich leaves. With endless possibilities for crafting fun presentations, it serves refreshment far beyond any single season. Whether enjoyed sweet or unsweetened, the age-old beverage continues evolving creatively while quenching hot weather thirsts delightfully. Get More Insights On, Iced Tea About Author: Money Singh is a seasoned content writer with over four years of experience in the market research sector. Her expertise spans various industries, including food and beverages, biotechnology, chemical and materials, defense and aerospace, consumer goods, etc. (https://www.linkedin.com/in/money-singh-590844163)

[littlemut]

i wish i could look at this… and feel Normal™️

[peachy-pineapples-2003]

One thing about me is that I want my "cold beverages" at room temperature.

Ice tea or soft drinks? Keep the ice cubes away from me

Iced coffee or a milkshake? I let that bitch sit for 1 or 2 hours to melt. Fuck it, if I'm feeling impatient I'll microwave it.

Chocolate milk? I warm it up just to let it cool down until it's room temperature

I am who I am

[stuckinstardewvalley]

you'd think by forbidding me from my drink of choice you've won but if it comes down to a battle of wills only one of us is willing to pass out due to dehydration

[yourstrulylightstar283]

Wow, this strawberry milkshake looks pretty and tasty! 🍓

🍓

The best strawberry milkshake

[gofooddy]

Grapefruit Yoghurt Parfait with Cocos and Amaranth

Grapefruit Yoghurt Parfait with Cocos and Amaranth – doesn’t that sound like a delicious combo? Just the right thing to recharge you after a long hectic day at the office or your place of work. The combination of creamy yogurt, sweet honey, popped amaranth and fruity grapefruit is nicely light but nevertheless super saturating. By the way, the Grapefruit Yoghurt Parfait is also great for a cozy…

[seasonalwonderment]

~ Lemonade! ~

[russellradio]

I don't know why this is the most romantic thing to me but it is

[yourstrulylightstar283]

Iced coffee is delicious! ^^

https://www.instagram.com/p/CsG61ORt-ZT/

[chasingrainbowsforever]

~ Aqua and Red ~

[fbfh]

Had to take this to the professional 🫡

We need more dad tony stark content (literally anything you got)

Literally starving

Thank you 😌

thank you for giving me more excuses to talk about this. Tony is such a good fucking dad in general, but he's especially great when you get sick. if you're in new york, he probably notices cause you're not up as early as usual. idk where this came from, but I can hear him clear as day walking into your room and smoothing your hair to wake you up, saying

"Hey pumpkin, sun's out." you only grunt in response, but it's not your usual sassy I don't wanna wake up grunt. It sounds softer, like you actually can't get up yet.

"You feeling okay?" before you can answer, he's totally on it. "jarvis, run a vital scan."

He rolls you over onto your back so he can look at you. you look... pale. you don't have the usual vibrance to your skin, it's gray and faded. you look like if you weren't lying down, you'd pass out. Your eyes are puffy and watery, your lips are chapped. You're not yourself. While Jarvis runs a diagnostic scan on your vitals, Tony also gets to work. he carefully sticks a microneedling patch on your arm to check your blood - something Strange helped him whip up, among many other ways to monitor your health without all that clunky invasive hospital equipment - as Jarvis gives him the low down.

"Elevated body temperature of 101.3 degrees fahrenheit, swelling of the sinuses, elevated white blood count..." Jarvis rambles on and on while describing your simptoms, only interrupted by an agressive coughing fit.

"And a rather nasty productive cough."

You look up at him and try not to get teary, you know crying will just make you feel more dehydrated and achy.

"Dad... I don't feel good..."

He looks down at you so warmly, and with so much love.

"I know, kid."

He stands up, determined to do everything he can to kick this cold in record time.

"Alright, your schedule for the week is cleared." He cuts you off as you object. "Ah-bup-bup-bup. I don't want to hear it. You are officially on bedrest until further notice. Jarvis, order out for some of that soup we like, some cough drops, and popsicles."

He looks down at you.

"You want ice cream? What am I saying, of course you want ice cream. Jarvis, throw in a few pints of Stark raving hazelnuts and bunny tracks."

He grabs the remote for your tv, putting on your favorite movie and has dum-e wheel you in a box of tissues. He grabs some vaseline and cold medicine, along with a fresh cold water and your favorite flavor of sports drink.

"Now. I want you to lay back, I want you to stay cool, and I want you to get some rest. And you're a Stark, so staying cool should be no problem." He gives you a kiss on the forehead, then stands up to move all his work to stuff he can do at home, and tell Pepper to cancel or reschedule the rest so he can spend the rest of the day watching movies and tv shows with you between naps. You can hear him muttering to himself as he calls Steven over to come check on you. If you weren't so tired, you'd find it funny that the only person your dad trusts to be your family doctor is also a wizard.

"Can stop aliens from invading earth, I can make an arc reactor that can fit in the palm of my hand, how have we not cracked this cold and flu season thing yet?" he mutters, making a mental note to discuss it with the rest of the Avengers at the next team meeting. you drift off to sleep feeling a lot better than you did when you woke up, and thinking about debrief folders titled Avengers v. Rhinovirus.

[friend-crow]

I HAVE JUST HAD AN EXPERIENCE

So I'm outside putting cozies (rags and duct tape) on the faucets and it's starting to snow, and a hummingbird comes up and is all up in my shit, so I'm like "okay boss, one refill on sugar water coming right up."

So I take down the hummingbird feeder, and the little dude comes and lands on it while it's in my hand. It keeps flitting away and then coming back to see if it is somehow refilled now. Zero apparent fear of me (it might be the hummingbird who has nested in my back yard the last couple years, or one of its offspring, but at any rate it seems to know that I refill the sugar water, and am generally on its side).

I can't WAIT to put the feeder back up, but I have to wait for the sugar juice to cool down a bit first.