The Evolution of Iced Tea: From Southern Delicacy to RTD (Ready-To-Drink)

Before Goldman and Nalebuff founded their company in 1998, iced tea was common in the deep south. Combined with ice, a generous amount of sugar, and a slice of lemon, the tea-based nectar was known as "sweet tea" and refreshing on hot summer days. Iced tea was used in a heavily alcoholic (rum-based) punch in the 1800s in Regent's Punch, which was favored by the then-English Prince Regent George IV. At the time, tea was still the most popular hot beverage in the United States. In 1879, an iced tea recipe appeared in a cookbook called Housekeeping in Old Virginia. In the book, the author recommends steeping the tea for one day, followed by an ice cube, adding two tablespoons of granulated sugar.

 
However, it wasn't until the World's Fair, held in St. Louis, Missouri in 1904, that iced tea truly gained popularity. An English merchant and tea grower (as well as a tea commissioner in India) named Richard Blechynden, aiming to promote tea, delivered it to his properties and decided to offer free cups of the hot aromatic beverage. That year, St. Louis was in the midst of a sweltering summer. As you can imagine, a hot cup of tea under the scorching sun was not very popular with the public. In response to this promotional crisis, Blechynden decided to literally turn things upside down: he and his team took hot Indian tea and by cooling the liquid, they impressed everyone.

Blechynden, who popularized iced tea, noted that cooling the tea so quickly did not change its color, character, or taste. The cold drink was a hit with the parched fairgoers. He would later call it an "act of desperation" as he had brought a large quantity of tea to sell at the event, and it wasn't selling until people started consuming it cold.

Part of the cultural and commercial scene

• Trends:

  • Healthy eating → demand for unsweetened, organic, and low-calorie options.

  • Premium brands → iced tea in glass bottles, with natural ingredients.

  • Cafes and tea bars → hand-made iced teas (cold brew, bubble tea, etc.)

• RTD growth: The global ready-to-drink iced tea market is constantly growing – thanks to convenience and variety.