June is actually Iced Tea Month…
iced tea is/was one of the main beverages of hospitality made (traditionally freshly brewed) and oft served as “sweat tea” in Black American households at holiday meals, Sunday suppers, other special occasions — or made for and offered to visiting guests from the late 19th century throughout the 20th. Today iced tea is primarily ordered and consumed at dining establishments ( from fast food to fine dining) and/or purchased in single serve plastic or glass bottles from store shelves or the refrigerated sections of grocery and convenience stores. See also “National Iced Tea Day (June 10th)” ~TH/TFG
[Below are a few pics from that time i created a line of hospitality-rooted cocktails for an MLK Day event produced by a group called ‘Background’. The iced tea one I called the “Not-Too-Sweet Tea for Feelin' Free”]:
You may notice some herbs and spices (e.g., ginger, rosemary in my old fashioned iced tea pitcher in that first pic ) which is perfect because today’s also National Herbs & Spices Day —very appropriately timed during Soul Food Month— since properly seasoning food ( and drink )with fresh and dried herbs and spices is a big part of traditional Soul Food, Southern and African-American foodways…
I was pleasantly surprised to see I have quite the collection of herb pics in my phone from both the NY and Brooklyn Botanical Gardens especially, Enjoy:
