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Thursday, June 19, 2008
June Is Iced Tea Month
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
ICE TEA: With lemonade or without?
Photo: Keith Hadley/AJC
Perhaps you were unaware: June is iced tea month.
But I’m in a bit of a predicament. When did Atlantans (those of us born and raised here) start putting lemonade in their iced tea? When I returned from a 16-year living stint in New England four years ago, I noticed that this habit has become a small phenom here — from high-end restaurants to pour-your-own-soda chains.
While I admit the result - a sweet, lemony, lip-smacking refresher - is tasty, I’d like to know when it arrived. We never did this when I was growing up — and neither did anyone else I know who was born and raised in the area. And now it’s touted as so Atlantan….
The drink, when the ratios are half lemonade, half tea, is actually called an Arnold Palmer, named after the golf legend. Alcoholic variations are numerous, where vodka and triple sec or bourbon are added (among others). Arizona Iced Tea actually makes a non-alchie canned version.
But I’m still baffled. I never drank anything like this, fancy name or otherwise, growing up. It’s NOT Atlantan … it’s not even originally Southern. It was purportedly first created in Colorado.
Did (or does) your family mix lemonade with iced tea? Where’s your favorite glass of iced tea or Arnold Palmer?
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