Approximately 80 percent of tea consumed in America is iced tea, according to the Tea Association of the USA. In celebration of National Iced Tea Month in June, Teavana reveals how to make the perfect iced tea at home.

“The first step is determining what taste you enjoy or benefits you want from your tea,” said Storm Woods, Teavana general manager. “Some are looking for teas with bold flavors while others are looking to promote health and wellness.”

Woods suggest visiting the discovery bar, where customers can sample a variety of tea blends at any of Teavana's 350 specialty retail locations across North America. Teavana has more than 100 loose leaf pure and flavored teas as well as herbal blends.

"Our partners can explain the different varieties of tea and help you find one that appeals to you based on your taste preferences," she added.

One option for those who want to explore and taste multiple iced teas can try the Poolside Perfect Iced Tea Collection, available beginning today: Pineapple Berry Blue Rooibos Blend, Strawberry Lemonade Herbal Infusion, Youthberry® Wild Orange Blossom White Tea Blend, and Raspberry Limeade Herbal Infusion.

Raspberry Limeade Herbal Tea Blend

A balanced myriad of berries with an elegant balsamic finish blended with a burst of lime.

Pineapple Berry Blue Herbal Tea Blend

Juicy, vibrant berry flavors blend beautifully with the sweet, tangy citrus notes to create a flavorful and balanced blend that is perfect for iced tea. It’s a blend of Blueberry Bliss and Pineapple Kona Pop that burst with the tangy-sweet flavor of hibiscus, citrus and bold berry.

Youthberry Wild Orange Blossom Tea Blend

This blend combines Youthberry® white tea with Wild Orange Blossom herbal tea for an explosion of pineapple citrus flavor. With the added punch of acai red currants and mango, this blend is sure to please the palate.

Step-by-Step Guide for Making Teavana Iced Tea at Home

Teavana offers a variety of iced tea makers including the Perfectea Maker, which has the flexibility to brew both hot and iced tea. “After you select your tea maker, prepare your tea double strength with twice the amount of tea that you would use for a hot beverage,” said Woods. “This ensures that the ice doesn’t dilute the flavor.”

Woods recommends using Teavana® Belgian Rock Sugar to sweeten iced tea. “Our rock sugar is a beet sugar that provides a nice level of sweetness without overwhelming the tea,” she said. “For extra sweet tea, dissolve the rock sugar in the hot water before adding the tea.”

The final two steps are to steep the tea according to the instructions on the package and pour it over ice. “It takes less than 10 minutes to make iced tea,” said Woods. “Some believe it is more involved than making hot tea, but it takes about the same amount of time.”