Happy Iced Tea Month (and a Giveaway)!

Did you know that June is National Iced Tea Month? Growing up in the south, I drank iced tea on a daily basis – naturally, when I discovered there was a month to celebrate this delicious beverage, I was ecstatic!

Recently, Fit Fluential offered an opportunity to review a Stevia based product called “Pure Via”. (There’s also a giveaway at the end, so keep reading!) I drink Truvia in coffee on a daily basis, so I was interested to try this alternative!



Not only did I receive a package of Pure Via to try, I also received a box full of goodies!

Along with Pure Via Stevia packets, I also received Pure Via liquid sweetener in plain/vanilla flavoring, a pedometer, SPF lip balm, a cute cup, and a container of Lipton instant iced tea mix!



Did you know that Lipton makes instant iced tea?? Where has this been all my life? I can’t believe I didn’t know such a thing existed! (I’ll be honest - after trying the powdered tea mix, I still prefer the old fashioned way…but the mix is nice if you are looking for a quick tea fix!)



It just so happened that I was making a cup of coffee as the mail arrived, so I decided to try a package of Pure Via out right then and there! (I loved it, by the way…didn’t even notice a difference from the other sweetener I’ve used!)

What sets Pure Via apart from others on the market? Here’s a few facts about Pure Via:

• Pure Via is great tasting and sweetened using all natural stevia.
• Pure Via is a good alternative to sugar and artificial sweeteners. (Each packet sweetens like 2 teaspoons of sugar)
• Pure Via packets’ ingredients are non-GMO (not the product of bioengineering). This is not the same for the liquid sweetener, fyi.
• You can use Pure Via like sugar, to add natural sweetness to your hot or cold beverages, sprinkle on your favorite fruits and use in recipes.
• Pure Via is suitable for people with diabetes.

After testing the iced tea with Pure Via packets (which was delicious by the way), I became a little adventurous and decided to make a fruity tea recipe of my own…in honor of National Iced Tea Month, of course!



Here’s a recipe for a delicious, Strawberry Vanilla Iced Tea

Ingredients

• 3 1/2 tbsp Lipton Instant Iced Tea Mix
• 8 cups of water
• 5 strawberries (if frozen, thaw prior to use)
• 1 tbsp lemon juice is you prefer a slight tartness to your tea (may substitute for water)
• Pure Via Vanilla liquid sweetener (may substitute with a packet of Pure Via if you desire to do so)
• Ice

Directions
 
Create a pitcher of iced tea (**or your individual serving size) using water/powdered mix as directed on the container.

In a bullet/blender, bring the strawberries to a pulse. Add tbsp of lemon juice or water to blender and blend again. Strain seeds if desired.

Pour desired amount of tea into a glass with ice (I used a 16 oz glass). Add vanilla or plain sweetener as desired. Add strawberry mixture to glass. Stir and enjoy!

**If you’d like to make the above recipe for 1 person alone, the back of the Lipton can instructs you on serving sizes and ingredients…

Here’s the fun part! Pure Via is giving you the chance to try their product as well! One lucky reader will win a Summer Fit Kit, similar to the one pictured above!

Enter through Rafflecopter below. Giveaway will be opened x 1 week and winners will be announced next Tuesday! Best of luck to you! :0)


a Rafflecopter giveaway


Disclaimer: I was given the opportunity to review this product for free, at no cost to myself – no further compensation was involved. All opinions stated are my own.