With summer almost here, warm weather and outdoor festivities create the perfect occasion to cool off with a refreshing glass of iced tea. And, June is the time to celebrate iced tea, as it’s National Iced Tea Month with National Iced Tea Day on June 10.

Greek mountain tea – made from the flowers, leaves and stems of the native Sideritis plant grown in mountains of Greece – is enjoyed hot or iced as part of the healthful Mediterranean diet, and now is available in the U.S. Klio Tea, www.kliotea.com, the leading U.S. importer of Greek herbal teas based in Santa Barbara, CA, is bringing the powerful, antioxidant benefits of Greek mountain tea and other Greek herbal teas to the U.S.

Naturally caffeine-free, Greek mountain tea is rich in antioxidants and contains significant amounts of flavonoids and polyphenols. It has been proven to be as potent as Green tea at inducing cellular antioxidant defenses and reducing oxidative stress. A growing body of published research shows promising results for its use in the prevention of osteoporosis, Alzheimer’s disease and even cancer. It also has demonstrated a positive effect on other ailments, including colds, fevers, respiratory problems, digestion problems and anxiety.

Greek-Tea-Leaves-in-Bundle

Here’s a simple recipe to brew your own batch of iced Greek mountain tea (serves 4-6):

Iced Greek Mountain Tea

Ingredients:

  • 4 small handfuls of loose leaf, single varietal Greek mountain tea (Sideritis)
  • 6 cups of water
  • Honey and lemon (optional)

Directions:

Add water and Greek mountain tea to a medium saucepan, and bring to a boil.
Allow to boil for 3-5 minutes and steep for about 3-5 minutes, depending on desired strength. Remove herbs, strain and allow to cool.
Pour into a large pitcher filled with ice and serve or refrigerate.
Serve with honey or lemon and sprig of Greek mountain tea (Sideritis) as garnish.

Enjoy!

Recipe and video is courtesy of Klio Tea, the leading U.S. importer of Greek herbal teas.