I like to drink hot and cold teas, particularly the sweeter teas. Prepackaged iced teas are fine but they get expensive and they often contain artificial ingredients. When I was forced to cut my expenses I cut back on purchasing non-essential drinks. I experimented with creating my own ice teas and started with black, green, and mint teas from my local dollar store. These simple teas are tasty, easy to make, and very inexpensive. I have moved from dollar store teas to loose teas but the final product is still very affordable and very tasty.

• Fruit-o-licious Tea
• Sa-weeeet Blueberry Tea
• Sassamint Tea
• Black Razzberry Iced Tea
• Razzmint Iced Tea
• Flavored Syrup Teas

Tea Shops

• Everything Tea in Snohomish carries over 300 loose leaf teas, herbal teas, wellness blends, and spices. Owner, Gina Martello, really knows her products and also creates custom blends. Her shop is in the Snohomish Historic Area near the Oxford Saloon at 903 1st Street, Snohomish, WA (Everything Tea, 360-568-2267)
• Pat’s Pantry in old town Astoria offers teas, herbs, rubs, and other wonderful culinary items. Many items are mixed on site and they are very helpful. If you are in the Astoria area be sure to stop by at 1153 Commercial St, Astoria, OR (patspantryastoria.com, 503-468-0583).