What keeps you hydrated, has beneficial antioxidants, and offers a little kick? 
It's that good old southern standard - Iced Tea. And that's fresh brewed, unsweetened ice tea - no instant mixes, no lemon, no sugar, no nutrasweet, no splenda. At first, it took a little getting used to, but now it is my personal standard of drink. When I have a full day of massage, I keep an insulated, lidded cup in my massage room so I can drink this amazing beverage (through a straw- so I won’t have to touch the cup during the session or stain my teeth with the tea).
I even replaced drinking water at the gym with drinking ice tea. I usually keep quiet about it in class, but one day I had a see-through straw. As I was drinking, my instructor saw the brown-colored liquid going up the straw and I was busted! She gave me a long lecture about the importance of water. I asked her to try it sometime. Now she drinks tea during class. Go figure.
My recipe: First, use quality ingredients. I like Tazo Awake Tea. I use a coffee pot and put 5-6 tea bags into the top basket (where coffee grinds go). Fill up the water container to 12 cups and press “go.” While it is brewing, place 5 half-gallon pitchers on the counter. When the first tea batch is made, pour the tea in equal amounts into all 5 pitchers. Using the same tea bags, make a second pot of tea. When the second tea batch is made, again, pour the tea in equal amounts into all 5 pitchers. Repeat the process until all 5 pitchers are full. Let the tea sit on the counter until cool, put on the lids and put it in the fridge.
Now, you have 5 pitchers of delicious ice tea with only about 1 tea bag per half-gallon. If you need a slightly stronger tea, instead of increasing the tea bag count, place a coffee filter in the basket before the tea bags. This will keep the water in the basket a little longer and produce a slightly stronger tea.
My recipe: First, use quality ingredients. I like Tazo Awake Tea. I use a coffee pot and put 5-6 tea bags into the top basket (where coffee grinds go). Fill up the water container to 12 cups and press “go.” While it is brewing, place 5 half-gallon pitchers on the counter. When the first tea batch is made, pour the tea in equal amounts into all 5 pitchers. Using the same tea bags, make a second pot of tea. When the second tea batch is made, again, pour the tea in equal amounts into all 5 pitchers. Repeat the process until all 5 pitchers are full. Let the tea sit on the counter until cool, put on the lids and put it in the fridge.
Now, you have 5 pitchers of delicious ice tea with only about 1 tea bag per half-gallon. If you need a slightly stronger tea, instead of increasing the tea bag count, place a coffee filter in the basket before the tea bags. This will keep the water in the basket a little longer and produce a slightly stronger tea.
Lastly, I don't always have time to brew up a fresh batch when I need it most. So, learn the restaurants in your area that serve fresh brewed unsweetened tea. Avoid anything that comes out of the same dispensers as carbonated beverages as these are made from concentrate and are inferior beverages. Most coffee shops and sandwich shops still brew their own. From there, it's a matter of personal preference about the ice - cubed, half-moon, cylindrical, crushed, cracked, etc.; but then, that's another story...
Let me know your trade secrets.
2 comments:
I am all about drinking tea instead of coffee...it works better with your body. However I would never replace water...our bodies are made mostly of what? yes water :) So yes I like tea...I drink two cups of hot tea every day but I also drink 1-2 liters of water every day...just think of your kindneys trying to filter out all that tea...if you do not replenish your water supply than your organs especially your kindneys will not work to their best advantage. OUR BODIES NEED WATER FOR EVERYTHING PLUS IT MAKES YOU FEEL BETTER & IT IS A GREAT ENERGY BOOSTER. Even though I enjoy tea it will never replace my H2O. But with all that said to each their own....it does not hurt my feelings what others drink :) Just please drink some H2O & make your body happy!!!!
I think its great you found that tea helps you get through your day. It is way better than the energy drinks and other alternatives out there. Although I don't know if I can do tea without the sugar (it's just so good) Next time I'm running low on energy I will give it a try and let you know how it goes.
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