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If you missed one of our most popular blogs ever on just how good green is for you, take a quick detour -- 7 Reasons to Drink Green Tea -- and then come right back. Because hot weather's no reason to give up your daily cuppa. Iced green tea is delicate and delicious, so keep a pitcher in the fridge and make it your new summer staple.
The quick-brew system: Pour 2 cups very hot water over 4 green tea bags and steep 3-6 minutes, depending on how strong you like it. Add 2 cups cold water and chill.
Then if friends are dropping by -- or you're just in the mood for something special -- pull out the stops: Green tea dresses up like nobody's business. We tapped some of the country's top tea gurus for these recipes. They'll wow the crowd, or just help you chill out on a steamy summer day.
GREEN TEA LEMONADE
For porch sippers
If you like your tea lemony and your drinks lightly sugared, this combo should hit your sweet spot. "It gives you that fresh green flavor with a hint of lemon -- perfect for summer," says Nelson Drago, owner of the Chado Tea Room in L.A.
Makes about 4 1-cup servings
1 Tbsp. loose Japanese green tea leaves, available in Asian markets and health food stores
9 oz. lemonade, sweetened to taste
Sliced fresh lemon or whole strawberries, for garnish
Steep tea leaves in 18-20 oz. of barely boiling water for 3 minutes, or longer if you like stronger tea. Pour brewed tea through a strainer into a larger carafe or pitcher full of ice. Stir in lemonade. Serve in glasses garnished with the fruit.
MANGO TANGO ICED GREEN TEA
Not only for dancing divas
This super-fruity sensation is from Mary Lou Heiss, coauthor of The Story of Tea: A Cultural History and Drinking Guide, coming this fall. Tropical fruits (mango and pineapple) up the antioxidant ante.
Makes 4 1-cup servings
1½ cups chilled green tea
(Heiss suggests using 2 tea bags of
Stash Premium green tea)
¾ cup chilled mango puree, sold at Asian markets and in some supermarkets
¾ cup chilled peach or apple juice
1 cup chilled pineapple juice
1 tsp. fresh lemon juice
Combine all ingredients, pour into blender (make in batches if necessary) and blend for 2 minutes. Pour over ice and garnish with sprigs of fresh mint.
MATCHA LATTE ICED ENERGY TEA
Now and Zen
This recipe hails from Essencha Tea House & Fine Teas in Cincinnati. Part of Zen Buddhist culture for centuries, matcha makes brilliant but bitter green tea. However, matcha latte is "creamy yet crisp," says Essencha co-owner Tracy Monson. "And it gives you the ultimate energy boost!" Because it's made from the entire leaf, matcha may be the healthiest of all green teas.
Makes 1 1-cup serving
1/2-1 tsp. good-quality matcha, sold at Asian markets
1 Tbsp. hot water
1 tsp. sugar or to taste
8 oz. milk or soy milk
Place matcha and sugar in a high-sided bowl. Whisk gently until blended. Add enough hot water to make a light paste, and whisk until the mixture is free of clumps. Transfer to a cocktail shaker. Add milk and ice and shake well until foamy. Strain and drink straight up or over ice if you prefer.
Ahh, the power of tea: Getting the right amount of antioxidants through food or supplements -- or green tea, which is loaded with these powerful health protectors -- can make your RealAge as much as 6 years younger.
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