It may be surprising, but iced tea is a fairly recent development relative to its warmer counterpart. Tea itself has been around as far back as the 3rd Century, first recorded in a medical text written by the famed Chinese physician, Hua Tuo. Although the precise origins are unclear, iced tea was born in 19th Century America. While it at first seemed like a mere novelty, the trend took hold when books such as Buckeye Cookbook by Estelle Woods Wilcox and Housekeeping in Old Virginia by Marion Cabell Tyree published recipes that ultimately popularized the beverage nationwide. Even today, iced tea makes up a majority of tea sales in the United States.

There are few ways to better enjoy the summer months than with a refreshing glass of iced tea. With summer officially arriving on June 21st, June has been dubbed National Iced Tea Month. So, we decided to kick-off the celebration by listing the great flavors and forms of the sometimes sweet drink! In the process, you can also get a little more acquainted with the fantastic line of tea brands provided by Houston’s.

Not just any tea can be made into iced tea. There are certain teas that are optimal for making a truly delicious iced tea, and a few certain brands that know how to get the mixture just right.

Black Tea and Green Tea typically come from the same plants, but the process that follows harvest is slightly different. Before the tea is dried, it is allowed to oxidize, a process in which the tea is exposed to oxygen and is turned into a dark tea. The result is a more fruity or smoky flavor.

Mighty Leaf‘s Organic Breakfast Black Tea promises an aromatic and brisk flavor that can either be enjoyed black, with milk, sugar, or even a touch of honey. And of course this robust blend can easily be brewed with iced tea in mind!

Green Tea follows a very similar process as Black Tea, except that it is immediately dried upon harvest rather than put through oxidization. This preserves the tea’s natural taste, making for flavors that are lighter, nuttier, and more grassy.

Numi Organic Tea’s Green Tea is plucked, dried, pan-fried, and steamed to prevent the oxidization process from taking place. Once the tea is curled, it receives a final firing to seal its spectacular flavor. Gunpowder Green follows this process, except that it is instead rolled into pearls that unfold full-bodied flavor for an excellent afternoon pick-me-up.

Oolong Tea is different from Black Tea and Green Tea because it comes from a completely different plant. However, it can hold certain characteristics from these two teas since it goes through some level of oxidization. The extent of oxidization can vary widely, making Oolong a versatile kind of tea. Oolong Tea is also typically rolled into a variety of shapes that give it even more flavor and aroma possibilities.

ITO EN has taken the Oolong sensation and put it into an easy on-the-go can that is meant to be enjoyed cold. The company has taken full advantage of the tea’s semi-oxidized properties to make an exceptional flavor somewhere between Black and Green Tea.

Herbal Tea, oddly enough, is not actually a tea at all, since it does not come from any particular tea plant. It’s actually a combination of leaves, roots, flowers, and pretty much any plant that isn’t tea. However, the way Herbal Tea is enjoyed places it firmly in the “tea” category, and we’re sure happy it does because it makes for an excellent iced tea.

Two Leaves and a Bud offers the Organic Better Belly Blend, which takes full advantage of Herbal Tea’s wide range of available resources while providing a healthy cup of joy! Ginger, fennel, crisp mint, calendula, and apple join forces to bring us a refreshing tea whether hot or cold.

Fruity Tea is without a doubt a favorite amongst iced tea drinkers. Often bringing out favorite flavors like lemon, raspberry, apple, or even pomegranate, iced tea just can’t go wrong when paired with something a little sweet.

Bigelow understands that tea drinkers aren’t always in love with cold or hot tea, which is why Lemon Lift has been created to accommodate the best of both worlds! With just the right amount of lemon and a dash of spice, you’ll soon be wondering why you ever settled for lemonade.

Tea Concentrate isn’t exactly its own form of tea, but it is just one more way that you can enjoy a wonderful iced tea on a hot summer day. There’s no denying that when you’re looking to make a large batch of iced tea or you simply don’t want to go through the work of brewing your own, Tea Concentrate can be a quick and easy lifesaver, and you don’t need to sacrifice flavor to use it!

Island Rose Gourmet Tea offers its award-winning Tea Concentrate in a form that made the iced tea style famous. Southern Style Sweetened Tea marries Black Tea Concentrate with natural cane sugar for a flavor that is bound to impress even the most discerning sweet tea drinker.

Of course, many of the brands listed here offer a wide range of teas, whether they be made for that sweet, cool summer treat or the hot morning cup we all rely on. We encourage you to explore the Houston’s website to better acquaint yourself with the products we offer and to learn even more about the world of tea.

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