Are you a sweet tea addict? Whether you live in the southeast or the northwest, iced sweet teas are a staple for the hot, sometimes sweltering, days of summer. But, when you’ve got interstitial cystitis, overactive bladder or prostatitis, traditional black, oolong, green and chai teas are well known for triggering urinary frequency, urgency, pressure and/or pain (aka IC flares). All are on the “caution” list in the ICN Diet Guide for their high acid and caffeine levels.
IC patients should look, instead, to some light herbal teas to make their daily brew. Iced chamomile or peppermint teas are very refreshing, especially when combined with a bit of honey or even citrus peel (lemon or lime peel contains much less acid than lemon juice). If you prefer a brown tea, look to some simple rooibos teas, such as Harney & Son’s Pumpkin Spice. Be cautious, though, of herbal or rooibos blends which often contain more acidic herbs, such as rose hips. It’s always better to start with the basic ingredients, ideally fresh, and then add other flavorings that you know are more bladder friendly.
Have some fun with how you make your tea too! Sun teas brewed in a large jar on the back porch are very fun to play with. Throw in a dab of this and a touch of that and, by the end of summer, you’ll have refined your favorite bladder friendly teas.
The mint and basil seem like an unusual mix but actually blend well together. You could also just make mint iced tea using your own recipe and throw in the basil for something different.
Pour four cups of boiling water over the herbs and let them steep for about 10 minutes. Strain the tea, boil the other four cups of water and steep the leaves again. Mix all of the tea and honey together in a large pitcher. Taste test it. If it’s too strong, add a little water to your liking. Refrigerate for at least two hours before serving.