‘Brew’tally Hot Outside? Here’s How To Sip Your Way Through It This National Iced Tea Day

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If you're in Northern India right now, chances are you've checked the weather app more times than your messages only to be met with another red alert. It's sticky, it's draining, and everything feels like it's melting, including your will to cook or move.

But there's one small ritual that offers a sweet escape - a tall, clinking glass of iced tea. It's not just a beverage anymore; it's a coping mechanism. Which is why National Iced Tea Day, falling on June 10, couldn't be better timed. No themed outfits or long checklists. Just pour, sip, and let the heat be someone else's problem for a few moments.

So, Why Do We Celebrate It?

Unlike hot tea, which has had a several-thousand-year head start, iced tea made its mark barely a century ago. In 1904, when the World's Fair in St. Louis was being scorched by a heatwave (some things never change), a savvy tea merchant decided to pour his brew over ice. Instant hit. From then on, iced tea found its place not just in cafés and diners, but in everyday life especially wherever the sun shows no mercy.

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India might have missed out on the origin story, but it's more than making up for it now. Whether it's nimbu chai (lime tea) on ice or peachy experiments in mason jars, we're all finding our own way to chill.

Ways To Celebrate Iced Tea Day (No Theme Party Required)

You don't need Pinterest boards or pre-orders to enjoy this one. Here's how you can keep it real and refreshing:

1. Make Your Own Signature Iced Tea

Start with a basic brew and play around - fruit, herbs, fizz, spice. It's surprisingly forgiving.

2. Host A Lazy Iced Tea Hour

Invite a few friends over, batch-brew a couple of pitchers, and let conversation flow as freely as the tea.

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3. Try A New Flavour Each Day This Week

Peach Monday. Kiwi Mint Tuesday. Spiced Tulsi Wednesday? Explore what you like - or don't. It's a fun way to break the monotony of the heat.

4. Share The Cool

Got a favourite recipe? Post it. Or better yet, deliver a bottle to your neighbour or security guard. Everyone deserves a sip of relief.

3 Recipes To Help You Forget It's 40+ Degrees Outside

Pomegranate Green Iced Tea

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For those who want something sweet-tart with a sparkle.

You'll Need

2 cups water

1 cup pomegranate seeds

1 tbsp honey

1 green tea bag

1 tbsp lime juice

Soda water

Ice cubes

Pomegranate kernels & crushed mint (for garnish)

Steps

Brew the green tea in hot water, steep for 4-5 mins, then cool.

Blend pomegranate seeds, strain the juice.

Mix pomegranate juice, honey, lime juice and tea in a jug.

Add ice, mint and pomegranate to a glass.

Pour the tea mixture in, top with soda water.

Garnish, stir, sip, sigh.

Peach Iced Tea

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Classic, juicy, and summer in a glass.

You'll Need

4 ripe peaches, sliced

4 black or green tea bags

4 cups boiling water

¼ cup sugar (or adjust)

Mint leaves

Lemon slices

Ice cubes

Steps

Steep tea bags in boiling water, let it cool.

Simmer peaches with sugar in a little water till soft. Blend and strain.

Mix peach syrup with cooled tea.

Add lemon slices and mint.

Serve over ice with fresh peach chunks for texture.

Kiwi Mint Cooler Tea

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Freepik

For when you want your tea to flirt with mocktail territory.

You'll Need

1 cup water

1 tbsp black or green tea leaves

1 kiwi, peeled and chopped

1 tbsp sugar

1 lemon

Mint leaves

Club soda (optional)

Ice cubes

Steps

Steep tea leaves in hot water for 3-4 mins. Cool.

Muddle kiwi, mint, and sugar in a glass.

Fill with ice, strain in the tea.

Top with soda if using.

Garnish with a kiwi slice or mint sprig. Serve immediately.

Quick Iced Tea Storage Tip

If you're making a big batch, store it in an airtight bottle and refrigerate, ideally consume it within 48 hours. Don't add sweeteners or fruits unless you're ready to serve. That way it stays fresh, not funky.

Final Sip

National Iced Tea Day may not be a public holiday - there are no sales, no hashtags trending, no countdowns. But maybe that's the point. In the middle of sweat-stained shirts and drained phone batteries, it's a small way to reclaim a little calm. A way to pause, sip, and feel (at least slightly) human again.

So, go ahead. Fix yourself a glass. Experiment. Spill a little. Take that long sip. Let it hit the back of your throat like a cool breeze. In this heatwave, iced tea is more than a relief, it's a mood.