Sweeten your Tea with out Sugar

Iced tea is a good beverage choice healthful phytochemicals (plant chemicals that are beneficial to humans) and is often cheaper than ready-made beverages, sodas and mixes. Plus, if you don’t add sugar, then it contains zero calories!  But sometimes we want our tea a little sweet.

To sweeten your tea without sugar, try adding:

• Citrus: lemon slices or orange slices
• Herbs: mint, basil, rosemary, thyme, oregano, lemon grass
• Spices: cinnamon, all spice, nutmeg, cloves
• Fresh fruit (choose ones that won’t oxidize, like peaches, cherries, berries, or melon)

You can also make combinations using fruit, spices, citrus, and herbs! Consider:

• Peach green tea
• Black tea with orange slices and cinnamon
• Green tea with rosemary and lemon
• Minted iced tea
• Black tea with nutmeg, cherries, and oranges

To make it easier to grab tea instead of a soda, prepare it ahead of time and have it ready in the refrigerator waiting.

To brew a great pitcher of tea, remember that tea should never be boiled.  Boiling tea leaves releases a bitter flavor.  Bring water to a boil and then remove from heat and place tea in the water or pour hot water over tea leaves.  Steep for 4 minutes for perfect tea.