Am I the only one who has a hard time drinking 64 oz. of water each day? It doesn't seem
as hard in the summer heat, but in the winter time I have to choke it down. A few years ago, I was trying my hardest to quit drinking sugary sodas, artificial sweeteners and lots of good, Southern sweet tea. It wasn't easy since that was 99% of what I drank each day.
I went cold turkey and decided that I was going to get used to drinking unsweet tea. When I drank it, I would pretend that it was a flavored water, not tea. That way I was hoping that it wouldn't taste so awfully bland. (I know - It's crazy that I would have to try to trick myself into drinking unsweet tea, but it worked!) I decided to use green tea after reading so much about the nutritional benefits of green tea, instead of black tea.
Since then I not only LOVE drinking unsweetened tea all day but I mix it up and try all kinds of herbal tea mixes. I usually order from
Bulk Herb Store and get all kinds of mixes of tea. Right now I have a bag of loose green tea and loose peppermint and mix them together. It's easy to add other ingredients to help ailments also or to boost immune systems. Celestial Seasoning blends are also very delicious, if I can get them with a good sale and coupons. I ordered Peach Green Tea bags in bulk from Amazon a few months ago and My Man loved it.
I make tea several different ways. In the summer, I fill a gallon glass jug (old pickle jar) with cold water, put in 2 small tea bags (or one family size) and place in the sun for a few hours. The other times of the year I fill the glass jugs with hot tap water and put in the tea. (top photo) Within an hour or so, the tea is ready for the fridge (bottom photo). If I'm using loose tea mixes, like from the Bulk Herb Store, I brew about 2 TB. of loose tea in the coffee pot and run water through it 2 times. Add cold water to top it off.
You don't have to use a ton of tea to make it this way. I drink mine pretty mild to save on tea.
I just planted peppermint in my garden and I can't wait to pick a handful of leaves and throw them in the cold water and sit it in the sun. It will be delicious and great for my kids too. The Fish Sticks love to drink unsweetened herbal tea too and I don't mind, because it's good for them. When the blackberries, peaches and grapes come in my fruit garden, I might toss some fruit in there just for fun.
