There’s something undeniably satisfying about a chilled glass of iced tea on a warm day. It quenches, cools, and comforts — a staple of porches, picnics, and sweet Southern afternoons. But did you know this refreshing drink has a storied past that starts at the 1904 World’s Fair in St. Louis?
A Happy Accident at the Fair
While cold versions of tea existed in the 1800s (some with alcohol, some without), it wasn’t until the scorching summer heat of the 1904 Louisiana Purchase Exposition that iced tea truly hit its stride.
A British tea merchant named Richard Blechynden had a hot tea booth at the fair. Unsurprisingly, no one wanted steaming beverages in the middle of a sweltering Missouri summer. Thinking on his feet, Blechynden poured his brewed black tea over ice. Fairgoers flocked to the booth — and iced tea, as we know it, was born into American culinary history.
Iced Tea Takes Root in American Culture
After the fair, iced tea became a national phenomenon. By the 1920s, it was popping up in restaurants, railways, and cookbooks. The invention of the iced tea spoon, with its long handle, and the Libbey glass (a taller drinking glass perfect for ice) reflected its booming popularity.
In the South, sweet tea soon became a defining cultural beverage. Brewed strong, heavily sweetened, and always served cold, sweet tea took on iconic status — especially in states like Georgia, the Carolinas, and Tennessee. At some restaurants, it became so standard that “tea” automatically meant sweet and iced unless otherwise specified.
A Modern Brew
Today, iced tea is endlessly customizable. From citrusy Earl Grey blends to fruity herbal infusions, green tea refreshers to floral oolong pours, there’s an iced tea for every taste and season
If you’re looking to cool off while savoring something steeped in history, check out our Cold-Brew Tea Kit or our spring-ready Cold-Brew Tea Bundle!
From a sweltering summer in 1904 to your modern-day glass, iced tea has stayed timeless — a drink that refreshes both body and spirit. Pour a glass, raise a toast to innovation, and enjoy a sip of history.
