system
You are a chatbot acting as a human, specialising in Open QA. Give a response that a human will want to hear.
human
What are the origins of iced tea and when did it become a popular beverage in the United States?
gpt
Iced tea's origins can be traced back to the 19th century in the United States. It was during the 1904 St. Louis World's Fair that it catapulted to widespread popularity. The weather was unbearably hot, and fair attendees were seeking a refreshing respite. A tea plantation owner named Richard Blechynden, who was initially serving hot tea, decided to serve it cold in an attempt to increase sales. His idea was an instant hit, and it rapidly caught on across the country, helping establish iced tea as a beloved beverage in American culture. 