Friday 18 July 2008

Why I Dislike Iced Tea

Jessie made a comment about the joys of iced tea - and questioned it being the worst thing in the world I have ever had. Ok, so there are worse things in life than iced tea. Much worse. However...

Want to know why I don't like the stuff?

Back in 1994, during a summer break from studying film and TV at college (what a great way to spend a few years at college!) I worked at a Salvation Army summer camp in California (what a great way to spend the summer!) Two major life events occurred at Camp Gilmore. I feel in love with a lifeguard from Ohio who later became my wife. I also realised, in a more grown-up sort of way, that God loved me too and there was nothing I could do about it. However, neither of these points have anything to do with iced tea.

Summer in California is hot. And dry. The whole season I was there it almost threatened to drizzle once, but didn't actually manage to muster itself up to that point. Kind of the complete opposite of an Irish summer.

It was on a particularly hot afternoon, after a hike through the camp trails, that I entered the dinning area and spotted the tables all prepared for the evening meal. On top of the tables were jugs (pitchers) of icy cold, golden coloured drinks. My taste buds, parched as they were, worked up the ability to send signals to my brain to inform me that one of my favourite drinks was ready and waiting for my consumption. The pre-thought of flavour flooded my mouth as I poured a glass and took a huge gulp of apple juice..............no wait!

Iced tea!

Unsweetened!!!

My senses were devastated and I've never returned to the vile stuff again.


By the way, any hot tea drinker worth their salt will tell you that on a warm day a cup of tea is more refreshing than a cold drink.

12 comments:

David said...

Cosmo, I too dislike the iced tea. I do drink it on occasion because I cannot drink sugar soda any more and diet soda is even more detestable than ice tea.

When i do drink it I always order it without the lemon and the waiters/waitresses always bring it with the lemon. I think I will just give up.

I used to have cocktails with dinner but, alas, no more of that either. I guess it is just water and coffee for me.

Take care. I hope you are doing well.

Ali said...

As a hardened tea drinker, I'll confirm what you say about tea on a hot day

Anonymous said...

having lived in Bangladesh & Ghana I can assure you that hot tea on an extremely hot day is very refreshing :)

Wallace said...

ah.... see there is a major problem here... you didn't really have proper sweet tea....... you would have to come down to the deep south (USA) to really have a proper glass! the yankees never get it right!


On a side note - hello from Alabama... We are going to be updating our blog from the states for the next 6 months.

Nancy Mon said...

You need to come to the South for some of the best iced tea you have ever had. We do it right. Ya have to give it another chance...done right...done well...

Cosmo said...

David,

I'm sorry your choice of drinks has been limited. Are you sure you should even be drinking coffee???

Ali & Tea4two,

I think having a hot drink has something to do with it being absorbed into your bloodstream quicker because it is closer to your inner temperature.

Wallace & Nancy,

Hmmm,I don't know... Maybe I would give it a second chance, but I'll wait until I visit that part of the world. (By the way, at what point does the South become the Deep South?)

RJ said...

You know what might be worse? I once thought I was going to have one of my children's iced cherry juice pops only to find out it was... tomatoe juice! Ugh! Keep on.

Cosmo said...

Ohhhhhh! RJ, you win!

(Looks like you had a great time at you daughter's wedding.)

Nancy Mon said...

The deep South is Alabama, Mississippi and Georgia. Only East Texas would be anything considered southern in the state of Texas. Still, you will get a good glass of ice tea here. Love the black currant tea at Cafe Express.

Cosmo said...

Thanks for the clarification, Nancy.

Good tea at Cafe Express: so noted. Next time I'm in the neighbourhood...

Snot Head (a.k.a Kylie) said...

I can't say I've ever had a problem with iced tea. I actually like it, but I do prefer unsweetened. Sweetened has turned into a syrup-y cup of yuck, at least in IL. Too bad you had that bad experience. I have never tried hot tea on a hot day. I always just assumed it would over heat me, that not being the point and all.

DizzyRunner said...

you should try iced coffee that's really nice. there's a link to how to make it on the hype coffee website - if you don't know what it is, it's www.hypecoffee.com