Have you ever heard caffeine intake will cause dehydration? I believed this myth for years and throughout the sizzling summer months  I’d avoid refreshments containing caffeine, such as tea,  to hydrate myself.  However, researchers have  dispelled the common belief that tea dehydrates and scientific studies found consuming moderate amounts of caffeine only has mild diuretic effects –very similar to drinking water.  In fact, tea is an excellent source of hydration, since it is more than 99% water, is calorie free before additives, and provides tea goodness! Nine advantages of hydrating with tea are:

1. Tea can help increase fluid intake, as it has a desirable flavor, which is often preferred over water.
2. Tea offers other health benefits in addition to hydration.
3. Drinking two to three cups of tea daily may help maintain normal, healthy heart function as part of a diet that is consistent with the dietary guidelines.
4. Research suggests that drinking two to three cups per day of black or green tea helps maintain healthy blood vessel function.
5. Flavonoids, in combination with other compounds in tea, are thought to be responsible for the health benefits of tea.
6. A diet rich in flavonoids is generally associated with helping maintain normal, healthy heart function.
7. Tea contributes 64.5% of flavonoids in the American diet.
8. Leaf teas from the Camellia Sinensis plant, such as black, green, oolong and white (not herbal) teas, naturally contain between 100 and 300 mg of flavonoids per eight ounce serving.
9. Look for the Tea Goodness Seal on many LIPTON tea packages. It shows that the tea contains a specific level of tea flavonoids. You can find the flavonoid content per serving on all packages with the Tea Goodness Seal.

Now that you know hydrating with tea offers many benefits, I have some fantastic news about the newest Lipton product making it extremely easy to get the refreshing taste of tea when you are on the go!  Lipton Tea & Honey is a delicious and convenient iced tea mix that you can enjoy anytime, anywhere. The unique line of iced tea mixes are sweetened with honey, contain no aspartame, and made from real tea leaves and fruit flavors.  However, there is a bit of sucralose in the ingredients, but it’s way down on the list.    Additionally, the tea only has 5 calories per 8 oz. serving, so if you are watching your weight it is a perfect beverage to include in your diet plan!  Lipton Tea & Honey is available in 6 delicious flavors in single to-go packs and 4 flavor varieties in pitcher packs.

FLAVORS:

Mango Pineapple

Lemon

Black Currant Raspberry

Blackberry Pomegranate

Peach Apricot

Strawberry Acai (Decaf)

PRODUCT VARIETIES:

Lemon Iced Black Tea Single to-go packs – 10-ct per carton (6 flavors); $2.99 MSRP

Peach Apricot Iced Black Tea Pitcher packs – 6-ct (1-qt) per carton (4 flavors); $2.99 MSRP

Black Currant Raspberry Iced Black Tea Sample packs – 3-ct per carton – $1.00 MSRP

Blackberry Pomegranate Iced Green Tea Club packs – 32-ct and 2 different flavors per carton; $5.99

Mango Pineapple Iced Green Tea MSRP (only offered in club stores)

Strawberry Açai Decaffeinated Iced Green Tea

Back in February , I chose to become a Lipton Tastemaker ambassador,  giving me the privilege to let you know about new products, exclusive news, money saving coupons, and offer you the chance to win some fantastic Lipton prizes.   This month I was sent an adorable  Lipton Tea & Honey cooler that included samples of the Lipton Tea & Honey Single to-go packs in three different flavors, a water bottle to enjoy the Tea & Honey, and a bunch of terrific information to share with my readers.

Here is what I think about the Lipton Tea & Honey products…they are DELICIOUS!  I tried the Black Currant Raspberry Iced Black Tea, Mango Pineapple Iced Green Tea, and Peach Apricot Iced Black Tea.  My favorite out of the three was the Black Currant Raspberry.  The tea is extremely tasty, refreshing, low-cal, and such a wonderful change to drinking just plain water.  All you do is simply pour the powder into a glass or bottle, shake or stir, and enjoy.  The products  are perfect for those who easily want to add some flavor to their water when they are out and an ideal beverage to serve at summer gatherings.

I know I’ve preached about staying away from artificial sweeteners, but being the sucralose  (Splenda) is the third from last on the ingredients list,  I’m not overly concerned and think the tea is a superb sweet treat to be consumed in moderation!  I will be purchasing the Lipton Tea & Honey Black Currant Raspberry Single to go packs in my next visit to the store and keeping a supply on hand to grab whenever I’m on the go or craving something refreshing to drink. My fifteen year old daughter also loves the Tea & Honey Single to go packs and likes to drop a few in her backpack.  I’m happy she would rather drink the tea over a bottle of soda and will keep hydrated during the hot weather.

Interesting Tidbits About Americans and Tea

Lipton Tea & Honey Cocktails

Try these refreshing cocktails at your next social gathering!

 

Strawberry Acai DaquirTEA

4 oz Lipton Strawberry Açai Tea & Honey

½ oz Pineapple Juice

1 oz Bacardi Gold

Splash Grenadine

Strawberry

Glass: Collins

Directions: Combine and shake all ingredients, strain into an iced Collins glass and garnish with a Strawberry

 

Blackberry Pom Marga-TEA-ta

4 oz Lipton Blackberry Pomegranate Tea & Honey

8 Blackberries

1 oz Tanteo Jalepeno Tequila

Proseco

Glass: Margarita

Directions: Combine and shake tea, blackberries and tequila, strain into a margarita glass, top with proseco and garnish with blackberry skewer

 

Ginger-Lemon Mar-TEA-ini

4 oz Lipton Lemon Tea & Honey

1 oz Hennessy VSOP

½ oz Domaine De Canton Ginger Liqueur

Lemon Slice Squeezed

Glass: Martini

Directions: Combine and shake all ingredients, strain into a chilled martini glass and garnish with a lemon twist

 

Tropical TEAse

4 oz Lipton Mango Pineapple Tea & Honey

1 Tsp Cream of Coconut

1 oz Ciroc Coconut Vodka

Pineapple & Cherry Garnish

Glass: Collins

Directions: Combine and shake all ingredients, strain into an iced Collins glass and garnish with a pineapple slice and cocktail cherry

 

Midnight Toast

2 oz Lipton Black Currant Raspberry Tea & Honey

½ oz Hibiscus Syrup & Flower

Proseco

Glass: Flute

Directions: Combine tea and hibiscus syrup in a flute, fill with proseco and garnish with hibiscus flower

FREE Lipton Tea & Honey Samples

To celebrate the new product announcement, Lipton is giving away a limited number of Lipton Tea & Honey samples! To receive free samples, you can visit http://www.LiptonTeaandHoney.com

 

Stay connected with Lipton using these social media sites!

Like Lipton on Facebook

Follow Lipton on Twitter

Visit the Lipton website

Lipton Tea & Honey Giveaway!

Courtesy of Lipton, five readers will receive one box – 10 sticks per box- of Lipton Tea & Honey.  For the chance to win, let me know what flavor of Lipton Tea & Honey you are most interested in trying. Leave your answer on the Rafflecopter form. Any comments are welcomed below, but won’t count towards the giveaway. Only entries using the Rafflecopter form will be eligible for prize. Thank you!

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“This post was created in connection with my appointment as an Ambassador in the Lipton Tea Tastemaker Program. Visit www.facebook.com/lipton to join the conversation.”