Hot Tea... You make my Heart Sing
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The weather is cooling down and fall weather is finally here (at least a couple days a week!). Which means… it’s tea season. In my personal opinion there is nothing quite like a hot cup of tea during the cool weather, and especially the winter. I particularly love it in the evening. There’s nothing quite like relaxing with your hands wrapped around your favorite mug to end the day. But I’ll be honest, I’ll drink it all day long on a really cold wintery day. I actually have quite the collection of teas in my cabinets because different times of day call for different teas… obviously ;) But in actuality, I’m sensitive to caffeine, so different times of the day really does call for different teas!
The best part about tea? Not only is it warming and soothing, but it can also be beneficial as long as you don’t load it down with add-ins such as creamers and sugars (yeah, that especially includes the fake stuff). Besides, when you find a good quality tea with a flavor you love, you won’t need the extras anyway. At that point, the only thing you’ll have to remember is to drink enough water! (As much as we’d love it to, tea does not replace the water in your daily requirements).
So, without further ado, here are some of my favorite teas and the time of day I enjoy drinking them in case you are a tea-novice. FYI: quality is huge when it comes to taste, but price does not always indicate quality. Ask some of your other tea snob friends if you want more suggestions (you probably have at least one).
I’m including links with the teas I’m suggesting in case you are a visual person like I am. However, I’ve found that buying tea in my local grocery store is much more economical than buying on the internet especially if you want a variety. On the other hand, there are some variety packs that are a good value if you aren’t looking for very specific teas (which I always am).
Morning Teas
Morning is the perfect time to have a tea with a bit more caffeine. Black, oolong, matcha, and mate teas tend to have the highest amount of caffeine per serving. That being said, there is no blanket statement on the caffeine content in specific types of tea as the amount of caffeine can vary depending on how long you steep the tea and at what temperature.
Vanilla Spice Perfect Energy (Yogi) – This is my favorite morning tea by far! I can easily swap this in place of a cup of coffee for my morning pick-me-up. Just make sure you use two tea bags if you are making a large mug or thermos if you want to get the full flavor. Yum!
Organic Early Grey (Steep by Bigelow) – This is my pick for cold or lazy mornings when I can bundle up in slippers and blankets with either my husband, a good book, or even some paperwork.
Daytime Teas
Depending on your caffeine sensitivity, you may need to be careful with the types of tea you choose during the day. (As I mentioned before, I’m fairly sensitive) Green and white teas generally have less caffeine than those mentioned above, but of course that can vary by type and strength (i.e. some white teas have more caffeine than some black teas). I’ve mentioned several of my favorites below that are caffeine-free and can easily transition from daytime to evening. You’re welcome.
Scarlet Citrus Rooibos (Tazo) – This herbal tea is tangy, citrusy, and extremely aromatic. I love brewing this tea not only to drink, but to smell as well.
Moroccan Mint (Lipton) – There’s just something about this tea that I could (and have) drink all day. Perfect for a snow day… or a cold work day!
Lemon Ginger (Stash) – Another tea that is easy to drink all day (as long as you aren’t anti-ginger, that is!)
Evening Teas
Evening teas should be caffeine free, not decaffeinated, especially if you are sensitive to caffeine (I know, broken record, but I am). This is because decaffeinated indicates the caffeine has been removed from the tea, meaning there still may be some caffeine in your cup. Caffeine free means that there never was caffeine to begin with, so you don’t have to worry about it keeping you up all night!
Soothing Caramel Bedtime (Yogi) – This is my all-time favorite, favorite tea. Like, favorite, favorite. With just a hint of natural sweetness not only does it fulfill the warm mug requirement, but it also curbs nighttime sweet cravings. Oh, and bonus! The herbs in this tea help promote calming before bedtime. Win-win.
Sweet Cinnamon Spice (Tazo) – Sweet and spicy, this tea is another good choice to satisfy your evening sweet tooth. Also, it smells like the holidays. Bonus.
Honey Lavender Stress Relief (Yogi) – Simple, light, and soothing. Less bold flavors than the two mentioned above, this is my go-to when I’m looking for something a bit more delicate in the evenings.
Wellness Teas
To wrap it up, I would be remiss to mention some of my favorite “wellness” teas. These are teas that contain herbs that help with some of the aliments that can come along with the winter season.
Throat Comfort (Yogi) or Lemon Echinacea Throat Coat (Traditional Medicinals) – I honestly don’t have a strong preference between either of these two teas. They both do the job of soothing a sore throat so I tend to go for whichever one the store I’m at carries. Of course, most of my favorite shopping locations tend to carry a larger tea selection now than they did 10 years ago, but I just see that as a win for me!
Egyptian Licorice (Yogi) – With just a hint of natural sweetness, this tea is nice to help soothe a tummy with a bit of an ache.
Soothing Mint Get Regular (Yogi) or Natural Laxative (Gaia Herbs) – Yes, I’m going there. Both of these teas contain senna leaf, which can help if you are a bit clogged up after a treat meal. If you’ve never used one of these teas before, go slowly and read the directions. I haven’t had any problems, but every digestive system is a bit different and I don’t want you to end up with disaster pants.
In Summary
I think hot tea is pretty much amazing, but you’ve probably figured that out by now. I have all of these, and more in currently in my pantry. However, if you’re new to tea, try or two at a time, or find a sampler pack. Or even better, ask that tea snob friend you thought of earlier when I mentioned her if she’d be willing to share some of her stash or make you a cup. Better yet, make a date of it. You bring the scones*, she provides the tea. Then, not only do you get to learn about tea, but you get to catch up as well. Win-win.
(*it doesn’t have to be scones, but that just sounds super fancy, you know? Tea and scones…)