I usually brew the tea the night before and place in the refrigerator. I use TAZO tea bags and steep for at least five minutes. You can brew the tea the day you need it and place in the freezer for 15 minutes to quick cool. I do not add any sweetener to my smoothies as I like the natural sugars from the fruits - feel free to add a tablespoon of raw honey or even peanut butter or almond butter to give it extra sweetness.