As Americans, we live in a culture of iced tea. It’s true: we love our tea iced more than any other country on Earth! Approximately 85% of the tea that is consumed in America is iced. It’s simple, refreshing, and delicious—what’s not to love?

Tea consumption is also increasing in America, partially thanks to millenials. According to the Tea Association, a whopping 87% of millenials drink tea, having grown up in an era where tea has been considered a good alternative to soda.

Okay, so we all love iced tea. But how can you make the perfect iced tea? It takes a different kind of nuance to make than hot tea.

First, you should always use fresh, cold water. This is because it will have more oxygen than the hot water you get out of the faucet, and more oxygen actually enhances the tea’s flavor. Think of the moment that boiling water first hits the tea leaves: the shock of heat opens them up to release the flavor, and the oxygen will help in the process.

So what kind teas can you pour over ice? Not just any tea! There isn’t an even exchange here between hot and iced tea: all tea that is good iced will also be good hot, but not all tea that is good hot will also be good iced. For iced teas, you want a tea that is crisp, as opposed to the rich teas that you brew hot. Black, green, or herbal teas can all be great iced.

One method for brewing iced tea involves steeping it in hot water for about 15 minutes and then cooling it down, but did you know that you can also make iced tea without ever heating the water? Add the tea to cold water and let it sit in the refrigerator for up to 24 hours, and you’ll have delicious cold-brew iced tea!

Iced tea is truly an American tradition, having been invented in either the late 1800s or early 1900s. And we’ve been enjoying it ever since!