Tropical Heat Wave

Anyone remember that song?

Oh! We’re having a heatwave, a tropical heatwave
The temperature’s rising, it isn’t surprising,
She certainly can can-can
She started a heatwave by letting her seat wave,
In such a way that the customers say
That she certainly can can-can

In 1933, Irving Berlin wrote “Heat Wave” for the musical As Thousands Cheer.  The song has been performed by numerous artists over the years, but Marilyn Monroe’s racy rendition of the song, in the 1954 movie There’s No Business Like Show Business is one of the best. However, my favorite rendition is from The Muppet’s Christmas Carol, where the rats perform the song. Now, who can top that?

So, what does the song have to do with tea?

I’m getting to that in a round about way. We just had a Tropical Heat Wave, where I live.  We’re talking 95 degrees plus days with the heat index well over 110 degrees – blistering, sizzling, scorching, searing, sweltering heat. If you were foolish enough to be outside, for any longer than five minutes, you’d begin to melt! Hot weather and I have never been good friends, so how did I spend those oppressive, sultry, steamy days?  Most of the time was spent in front of the tv watching old movies on TCM and drinking iced tea. In the summer, you cool down immediately after you drink cold tea taken out from a refrigerator. And considering the health benefits, iced tea will protect the cellular structures of tea leaves from high water temperature, thus the all the healthy substances remain.

Did you know that…

According to the Tea Association of the USA, about 75 to 80 percent of the tea consumed in the U.S. is iced tea. And Americans guzzled more than 1.8 billion gallons of ready-to-drink iced tea in 2018, making it one of the most widely sold drinks. I brew my own however.

So, in honor of this thirst-quenching, revitalizing refreshing beverage, here’s a poem.

Iced Tea

There are a lot of beverages
But there’s one that feels like a kiss.
As I drank it
A fire was lit
Fueling my love for iced tea,
That’s the drink for me.
Not Coke, not Sprite
Mountain Dew, too bright
Iced tea is cool and sweet
My expectations, it will meet.
Iced tea is just awesome!
For it I will always come,
Iced tea is the best
Compared to all of the rest!

Cathy Zhang