Summer is quickly approaching and with summer comes hotter weather and more opportunities to soak up the sun! Looking for a way to refresh and cool down? Look no further! Herbal iced tea is the drink for you! Herbs are categorized as a plant with aromatic properties and can be used not only for cooking but for adding flavor and health benefits to iced tea! Some examples of herbs are mint, rosemary, sage, chamomile, lemon balm, etc. Read below to find out some of the great health benefits of herbal tea!

Green Tea

Green tea has been popular in the eastern culture for centuries and has become increasingly popular over the past decades in western culture. According to the Chinese diet therapy textbook focused on Food and Nutrition, green tea clears the mind, reduces stress, and improves mood. Green tea also positively impacts the immune system by stunting the production of specific immune system molecules that cause inflammation and joint damage!

Check out this recipe from Jessica Gavin that is naturally sweetened using honey and mint. Lemon and lime are used to give the tea a lemonade kick!

Hibiscus Tea

Hibiscus tea is a perfect refreshment on a hot summer day because it supports the body’s cooling system and can help you relax by lowering your blood pressure! Hibiscus tea has several other health benefits like lowering cholesterol, decreasing inflammation, and boosting the immune system. Hibiscus is sold both loosely and in bags. When using loose hibiscus, a fine mesh strainer is needed to strain the tea leaves and keep them from staying in your drink.

Check out this recipe from the Almond Eater! It incorporates not only herbs but fruit as well! This drink will cool you down and refresh you as you sit outside on a nice summer day!

Black Tea

Are you tired of trying to find a refreshing, low-calorie drink that is packed with flavor? Try black tea…it is a low-calorie, non-sweetened beverage with less caffeine than coffee or energy drinks. Black tea has a strong, unique flavor and contains plenty of antioxidants that provide several health benefits. Additionally, all these properties can help improve cholesterol levels, give better gut health, and decrease blood pressure. Best of all, it’s simple to make and can easily be found at many stores or online.

Try this Cinamon Orange Black Tea recipe from tasty!

Chamomile Tea

Chamomile Tea has a light, airy, and really fresh taste that most people enjoy. It is most widely known for relieving stress, anxiety, and for aiding in sleep. But it has other health benefits that you may not know about. Chamomile tea acts as a diuretic, aiding in digestion by helping flush out water, liquids, and other wastes from the body. It also contains anti-inflammatory properties and has been proven to help people with diabetes by lowering blood sugar levels and regulating the amount of insulin in the blood.

Check out this Chamomile and Peach Iced Tea for a cool and fruity way to destress!

White Tea

White tea falls into the same family as black and green teas. However, it is the least processed of the three teas. Because of this, it retains a high amount of antioxidants.  White tea has a subtle yet refreshing taste and can be enjoyed both hot and as a cold brew.

Looking to cool off this summer? Make this Blueberry White Tea Water your new go-to refreshment this summer!

Make your Own! 

The great thing about herbal iced tea is that it is simple to make your own! You simply need any sort of tea like green tea, black tea, chamomile tea, etc. Steep it and keep it in a pitcher in the refrigerator to keep it cool! Add any sort of herbs like mint, rosemary, sage, lemon balm, etc. Add frozen fruit like raspberries, strawberries, orange, lemon, and lime slices to add sweetness!