sweet sips

Today is the first day of National Iced Tea Month, and here in the glorious South that means chilling a pitcher of sublimely sweet brew.

But before stocking up on a month’s worth of sugar, think about trying one of these naturally sweet blends packed with healthy dried fruit, herbs, and spices - you’ll load up on all the flavor and none of the empty calories. Our favorites:

Tazo Passion - fruity with a hint of spice, this spunky dark pink herbal tea boasts a dose of cinnamon, an anti-inflammatory. Order it at Starbucks shaken with lemonade.

Yogi Sweet Thai Delight - coconut, anise, chocolatey carob blended with rooibos tea and stevia, a leafy alternative to cane sugar. Try it as an iced tea latte with a splash of milk - especially lite coconut or vanilla soy.

Republic of Tea Blackberry Sage - juicy blackberries and black tea made seriously refreshing with a hint of stomach-soothing white sage. Also available in decaf for the perfect evening cooldown.

If you’re absolutely craving that spoonful of sugar, try a splash of fruit juice or honey - both metabolize slower than refined table sugar. And don’t forget the lemon, the tartness makes the sugar taste sweeter so you can get away with using less.

We also dig this iced tea pitcher, above; 102 oz is enough to keep everyone hydrated even on days like today when it’s 80 in our office. Photo courtesy of Republic of Tea.