Some people are known for their great talents. The world is full of actors, singers, writers, and other creative types. Others have great minds and pursue prestigious careers in science. As for me – I am the creative type. As a nurse, I gravitated to areas where I could use my passion for teaching and coaching, places where I could make abundant use of my rather warped sense of humor, writing, and speaking skills. Yet, if you ask my family what they “inherited” from me, they would all say “iced tea.”

I am somewhat of an iced tea connoisseur if such a title exists. Admittedly, I am very particular about my tea. The leaves must be top quality and loose so I can tightly control the amount. My method is precise – .32 ounces of black tea leaves, steeped for exactly four minutes in my 32-ounce glass teapot. I use filtered water, and the ice must be equally high quality. Typically, I buy ice as the ice “wannabe’s” from my icemaker is much too grainy for my liking. My mother taught me the art of making spectacular iced tea. Her tea was sweetened with sugar. I typically use Splenda in quantities that would mimic a true Southern sweet tea style.

Lest you think I have lost my mind, do consider that black tea has significant health benefits. A cup of black tea is a great source of antioxidants and may play a role in preventing some of our most destructive diseases. So to those who have asked me how to brew the perfect cup of black tea, now you know. It’s simple. And, if there is ever a twelve-step program for tea addicts, I will be first in line, right next door to all of the daily coffee drinkers. Wink!

For more information on black tea benefits: Molecular evidences of health benefits of drinking black tea – PMC (nih.gov)