Yesterday was one of my favorite days to celebrate. Growing up in the 50’s and 60’s my favorite drink was Royal Crown Cola (RC). A 12 oz (glass) bottle of RC and a bag of Mr. Bee chips could be had for 20 cents. And, if you brought the bottle back you received a nickel refund. Later in life I started drinking sweet iced tea. Mainly because our yearly trip to Myrtle Beach got me hooked. One thing they do well down in South Carolina is make good sweet tea.

On June 10th, each year tea enthusiasts and casual fans alike come together to celebrate National Iced Tea Day.

Whether you’re a fan of sweet tea, unsweet tea, or flavored tea, National Iced Tea Day is the perfect excuse to grab a glass and toast to the iconic drink. Yesterday I consumed five large glasses of the beverage from three different establishments. Two were unsweet with artificial sweetener added. The other three were sweet, but only one had any resemblance to down south tea. One good thing about tea is it is still affordable. Fast food joints give free refills with large tea costing about two bucks. Set down places are charging three to four bucks for a smaller glass and you’re lucky to get a refill.

However, it does have some addiction to it, so you have to budget it in. The history of iced tea dates back to the 19th century. While tea has been consumed for thousands of years, iced tea gained popularity in the United States during the 1800s. The first iced tea advertisement appeared in the 1850s, and by the early 20th century, iced tea had become a staple in American culture.

On the positive side of Iced tea, it’s more than just a refreshing drink; it also offers several health benefits. Tea, in general, is rich in antioxidants, which can help protect against cell damage and reduce the risk of certain diseases, and drinking Iced tea can be a great way to stay hydrated during the hot summer months.

I have tried different flavors of tea, such as peach, raspberry, or mango, but none seem to satisfy my thirst like regular good old down south sweet tea. At family cookouts we always make sure there is fresh brewed iced tea for the tea drinkers. Yesterday to celebrate iced tea day we brewed up two gallons of sweet tea and made one gallon of sun tea. My hope was to have tea for the rest of the week, but by the end of the day the jugs were empty. Seems like tea was the perfect drink to go along with grilled ribeye and chicken.