A New Spin on an Old Favorite

Nothing says summer in the South like Sweet Tea. The sun is shining, kids are swimming, birds are chirping, and it’s time to play! Here in Austin, the weather is heating up and spring is officially in full force.

With weather in the upper 80′s today, I was in the mood for something clean, cool, & crisp. The answer, Iced Sweet Tea!! But you know me, always health minded, I decided to forgo the heaps of sugar for a healthier, sugar-free version. I got a little creative and gave my tea a twist by using Harney & Sons Chinese Flower (Green Tea with flowers and lemon). Let me tell you, it is AWESOME as an iced tea!!!

I actually don’t like the taste of the Chinese Flower Blend as a hot tea but it’s a definite keeper as Iced Tea! I love this brand, they have the cutest tea sachets and come in a really lovely tin. An excellent gift idea…hint, hint!

You can find them @ Barnes & Noble or on their website.

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So what’s so great about green tea anyway? Green tea is bursting with antioxidants. Antioxidants help protect your cells from damage caused by unstable molecules known as free radicals. Free radicals are by-products of our normal body functions. They are constantly formed and then destroyed by antioxidants throughout our lifetime.

The problem is, through exposure to things like cigarette smoke, radiation, pesticides, environmental pollution, food additives and even regular household chemicals (like cleaning products, perfumes, paint, out-gassing from carpets, dry cleaning, etc.) free radicals begin to accumulate excessively in the body. Eventually these free radicals will exceed our body’s ability to fight them off. If we don’t have enough antioxidant supply, the extra free radicals will invade the healthy tissues around them and attack healthy cells. As a result, our health will suffer from cancers, cardiovascular diseases, immune deficiencies and other health problems.

So, be a good girl/boy and load up on antioxidants!! The best way is through the diet. Green Tea is a great source as well as all berries (blueberries, cranberries, strawberries, blackberries, cherries etc.), apples (an apple a day keeps the doctor away!), pecans, artichokes, broccoli, & kale just to name a few. Load up with plenty of fruits and vegetables at each meal and you should be covered

To make this fabulous, antioxidant rich Sweet Tea, simply add 4-5 Chinese Flower Tea sachets to about 2 quarts of boiling water. Let steep for 3 mins. Serve chilled over ice with a squeeze of liquid stevia and garnish with sliced lemon.

I always order my stevia through iherb.com they have the absolute best prices!! I like NuNaturals brand alcohol free liquid stevia, it’s the best tasting. Be sure to use my discount code WAG472 to get $5 off your first order!

I hope you enjoy this healthy Iced Sweet Tea and some warm weather to go with it!

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