As the sweet summer sets in and the sun goes higher, we head into the National Iced Tea Month which is in June! Undoubtedly, it’s the perfect time to tell you all about this rather timeless-seeming beverage that is so dear to millions around the world.
Iced tea has always been at the centre of our adoration for chilled beverages! Tall glasses filled to the brim with natural goodness, a dash of sweetness, and oodles of ice – that’s something all of us can relate to! From being a significant part of Southern America’s hospitality, to unsweetened black iced tea served all over the country, iced teas have taken over in most of the restaurants, food stalls, bars, and now are sold in a variety of forms by major tea brands.
This rising trend of cool teas or iced teas has been meteoric to say the least! Between 2016 and 2021, the global consumption of Cool teas has risen from 37 billion litres to 45 billion litres. An increasing number of consumers want easy-to-brew, quick, and delicious iced teas that not only provide a sigh of relief in the hot summers but are also increasingly offering more as a healthier beverage in comparison to carbonated drinks.
With a conscious shift in consumer preferences, home-grown tea brands like VAHDAM are seeing a rising demand for healthier cool teas that have a low sugar content, are made from real loose-leaf teas and can offer some health benefits. So let’s take a look at the Best Cool Teas that you can relish this summer!
HERBAL ICED TEAS
Herbal iced teas are a great choice as they are non-caffeinated and contain no tea, so as to speak of. Herbal iced teas are a delicious concoction of herbs, spices, flowers, and other botanicals. A personal favorite is VAHDAM’s Iced Hibiscus tea, blended with a motley of spices and flowers like chamomile and blue pea cornflower. These teas are full of luscious tart-like flavors and are rich in beneficial antioxidants. You could also choose from other herbal iced teas like Turmeric iced blends like a Turmeric Ginger Iced Tea which will offer you the anti-inflammatory benefits of Turmeric and the soothing properties of Ginger which can also help settle indigestion.
FLORAL ICED TEAS
Who doesn’t like flowers? Flower power is big in the world of teas, making delicious concoctions that are redolent of ambrosial aromas, delectable taste, and a world of good health. Floral blends like chamomile tea make for excellent calming teas and can be brewed as iced teas well for sipping in the evening. But with flowers to make a flavorful cool tea, you need green tea or black tea in the mix that can accentuate flavors.
INSTANT ICED TEA PREMIXES
Instant iced teas are basically ready-made iced tea premixes that are water soluble. Although traditional instant iced tea premixes have and still enjoy a lot of adoration, people are gradually becoming more aware of the high sugar content that it contains. VAHDAM has launched a low-calorie, vegan, and healthy instant iced tea with green tea base and natural sweetener. These are instantly soluble, contain a healthy dose of antioxidants from the organic green tea base and come in two wonderful variants of Hibiscus Apple Instant Iced Tea and the Lemon Basil instant Iced tea premix.
FRUIT ICED TEAS
Does it remind you of those sultry evenings in Copacabana? Or does it take you straight to the beaches of Hawaii? Then why not recreate the magic at home with fruit iced teas. Any type of tropical fruit can do the magic for you. Simply take fruits that would complement each other. Like Pineapple and Orange; Lemon and Orange; Green apple with Kiwi and much more. You can easily find these combinations on the internet. To really bring out the flavors in these blends, it is advised that we brew them with a tea base that is bold and flavorful, like black teas.
If this seems like too much labor, then you can actually go for some readymade fruit
iced tea blends that come with real fruits and loose-leaf teas. One of our go-to blends is the alluring Tangy Tamarind Iced Tea that contains a vibrant blend of tamarind, tropical berries, fruit bits, and lemongrass with roasted coconuts.. You could also try out the Mint Passionfruit Iced Tea for those looking for a sprightly punch!
We hope that these iced blends make for a great summer treat for you and your family! So instead of those carbonated sodas, why not turn to healthier iced choices like these cool teas that have everything from delectable flavors and a plethora of health benefits. Happy Tea-ing!
Disclaimer: The article is authored by Mr. Bala Sarda, Founder & CEO, VAHDAM India. The views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the author’s and do not represent those of GlobalSpa.
