Summer is here, and nothing pairs with the season quite like a cool, refreshing Iced Tea! The beloved Southern staple has been enjoyed since we first had ice boxes to cool down this delicious drink — and fortunately, these days, it’s even easier to savor. Just swing by Peach Valley Port Orange and order a glass with your favorite meal! In honor of National Iced Tea Month this June, here are a few of our go-to picks to pair with Iced Tea.

Chicken & Waffles

Because Iced Tea is such an essential component of Southern cuisine, it only feels right to pair it with Southern comfort food! Chicken & Waffles is a natural option here. At Peach Valley Port Orange, ours is paired with powdered sugar, blueberry butter, and Cajun syrup for a delightful burst of flavor you’re sure to enjoy.

Chicken Salad Sandwich

Iced Tea is also a mainstay at many a summer picnic, and works deliciously well at washing down other picnic favorites like a classic Chicken Salad Sandwich. Fortunately, you don’t need to do the prep work to enjoy this mouthwatering combination. Instead, leave it to us! Our Chicken Salad Sandwich features the familiar combination of celery and fresh iceberg lettuce on toasted wheat bread. Dig in at our place, or bring your meal outdoors for a Riverwalk stroll or local picnic in the park!

Shrimp & Grits

Just like Iced Tea, Shrimp & Grits originated in the Carolinas — more on the drink’s delicious history later. Here in Port Orange, our local geography permits a similar fusion of Southern flavor from land and sea! The pleasantly hot kick of our Shrimp & Grits (thanks to the addition of a spicy lemon butter sauce) meets its match with the cool, refreshing goodness of our Iced Tea. That’s what we call harmony.

Buttermilk Biscuits & Sausage Gravy

If you grew up in a Southern household, Buttermilk Biscuits & Sausage Gravy was likely a familiar, comforting brunch or breakfast go-to — one whose hearty flavor Iced Tea can only enhance.

Southern Sides

Sometimes, you simply can’t decide what’s for lunch today. Fortunately, Peach Valley’s abundance of savory sides mean you can build your own meal with a bit of everything! Iced Tea’s light sweetness can be a playful complement to our Onion Rings, Housemade Dill Potato Salad, and so much more.

A Fun Coast Connection

According to What’s Cooking America, tea was likely brought over to America in the late 18^th century by French explorer and botanist Andre Michaux, so we have him to thank for the eventual creation of Iced Tea in the South. But South Carolina wasn’t the only place Michaux made an impact — during his missions as France’s official royal botanist, he also traveled to what is now St. Augustine, Florida and the St. Johns River, documenting much of our local flora for the books.

During Iced Tea Month and all year long, we hope you join us in raising a glass to this delicious, versatile Southern staple!