National Iced Tea Day 🧊

Overview

National Iced Tea Day is observed annually on June 10th, inviting people to celebrate and enjoy one of the world's most popular and refreshing beverages. This day highlights the widespread appeal of iced tea, which is especially cherished during warmer months as a crisp, cooling drink. Many observe the day by brewing their own unique concoctions, trying new flavor combinations, or simply savoring a classic glass of this beloved beverage.

Origin and story

The widespread popularity of iced tea in the United States is often attributed to its introduction at the 1904 St. Louis World's Fair.

Iced tea is the official state beverage of South Carolina.

Quick facts

• DateJune 10
• TypeFood / Dessert
• Great forFoodies, Chocolate lovers, Home bakers

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Ways to celebrate

Iced tea wasn't invented at the event most people credit — it just became a nationwide phenomenon there.

Meet the man who popularized it

British tea merchant Richard Blechynden ran a tea concession at the sweltering 1904 World's Fair in St. Louis; when fairgoers ignored his hot tea in the heat, he dumped ice into it on the spot, and the cooled-down drink sold out for the rest of the fair.

Know it predates the fair by decades

Iced tea had already been customary in the American South well before 1904, with one of the earliest known recipes published in Virginia in 1878 — the World's Fair moment simply introduced the drink to the rest of the country.

Read the fuller history

Helpful resources:

• The Hot and Hazy Beginnings of Iced Tea (Academy of Tea)

Did you know?

By the 1920s, iced tea had spread far enough that it was showing up in restaurant menus, railway dining cars, and mainstream cookbooks across the country.

Fun facts

• The widespread popularity of iced tea in the United States is often attributed to its introduction at the 1904 St. Louis World's Fair.
• Iced tea is the official state beverage of South Carolina.
• Approximately 85% of all tea consumed in the United States is iced tea.

Sources and attribution

The Hot and Hazy Beginnings of Iced Tea (Academy of Tea)

External links may lead to third-party websites.

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FAQ

When is National Iced Tea Day?

It is observed on June 10 each year.

What is National Iced Tea Day?

National Iced Tea Day is observed annually on June 10th, inviting people to celebrate and enjoy one of the world's most popular and refreshing beverages. This day highlights the widespread appeal of iced tea, which is especially cherished during warmer months as a crisp, cooling drink. Many observe the day by brewing their own unique concoctions, trying new flavor combinations, or simply savoring a classic glass of this beloved beverage.

How do people celebrate National Iced Tea Day?

Pour a glass of iced tea and consider the 1904 St. Louis World's Fair, where vendor Richard Blechynden dumped ice into unsold hot tea and turned it into a nationwide sensation — though the drink already existed in the South.

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