National Hot Tea Month May Be Over Yet It's Not Too Late To Have A More Tea-Filled Year
Did you know January was National Hot Tea Month? If you're a tea lover like me, then you probably did. And if you didn't... well now you do. You're welcome.
It shouldn't surprise you that I'm writing this post while also enjoying a homemade "medicine ball" - honey citrus mint tea - because nine times outta ten, I'm drinking tea. My love of tea grew exponentially in the last 4 years when a health concern required me needing to scale back my coffee consumption. I was distraught at first & then decided to make the most of it & explore tea varieties. Now, 4-ish years later, I'm plotting growing my own tea garden... that's how much I've come to love having tea as part of my days.
Don't fret... you don't have to have my shared love of tea to enjoy National Hot Tea Month... however you might just find yourself changing your mind.
What Is National Hot Tea Month?
January being National Hot Tea Month was truly apropos since, for most parts of the country here in the US, it's usually obnoxiously cold. For me, a hot cup of tea during the winter is a gentle reminder to get in alignment with the natural slow down & stillness of the season... as nature stops to rest, it reminds me to [try] do the same. It also tickles me that January would be National Hot Tea Month, right alongside Dry January when people abstain from alcohol for 31 days. For anyone who would be engaging in Dry January, I suppose they'd most likely appreciate drinking to the new beginnings of the year with a multitude of tea varieties & tea mocktails.
What Are The Benefits of Tea & Having A Tea Routine
As I mentioned, I really got into drinking tea when a health concern caused my doctor to tell me that I needed to decrease my coffee intake. Thankfully he didn't tell me to eliminate coffee from my diet altogether - or caffeine - because I might've come completely undone. To know me is to know that I don't just love coffee and tea for their flavor profiles. For me, it's also all about the process - the slow down of preparing a cup, from brewing to first sip - so scaling back on coffee meant finding a suitable replacement for my daily routine, in addition to the many benefits that come with drinking tea.
Many, if not most teas, are known for their health benefits & medicinal properties which means I could also introduce teas into my routine that could also assist with my health conditions. Different teas also meant different flavor profiles, making for a really elevated at home cafe experience as I would experiment with a variety tea recipes. Lastly, as someone who strives to live a hygge inspired lifestyle, tea is the ultimate comfort beverage As I began to get more intentional about my tea intake - not just a cup of lemon tea with honey to fight off a cold - I found myself going down a rabbit hole of tea education, learning about the benefits of loose leaf tea versus tea bags (or k-cups), how different teas require different brew temperatures, and, of course, how to make the perfect tea latte without completely sacrificing caffeine.
Loose Leaves vs Tea Bags
A little under 4 years ago, I began dabbling with loose leaf teas - teas that aren't packaged in tea bags - and that's when my relationship with tea really transformed. It's like I unlocked a whole new level of hygge. Although I initially planned on completely phasing tea bags out of my tea routine, in the past year, I think I've struck a nice balance between both.
What initially drew me to loose leaf teas was two things - the different blends & varieties, and the quality & integrity of the teas. I've found that in the years since I was first introduced to loose leaves, there are tea brands that give me the same variety without compromising quality or flavor.
“Tea Tip: When brewing with teabags, do not squeeze the bag. Doing so will release acids that’ll weaken the taste, and cause it to be more bitter & acidic. Instead, save the teabag for a second cup later in the day.
P.S. dunking your teabag serves absolutely no purpose. ”
I prefer teabags for certain brands & flavors, and loose leaves for more bespoke blend options. For example, I love making a London Fog, which consists of a Earl Grey Tea. I'm fine getting this as a teabag because Teavana has a delicious Earl Grey Crème Black Tea with Lavender & Vanilla notes. I don't need to invest - because loose teas are typically a higher price point than pre packeged teas - in an Earl Grey loose tea blend. On the other hand, when I want very specific flavor combinations and/or medicinal targeting, a loose leaf is my go to, for everything from emotional support to gut health. I also established this hybrid tea model, if you will, based on my lifestyle. While a tea routine helps me slow down, some times I am on schedule & using the teabag is a far more convenient option. It's also the easiest for my family, as they're now also getting into tea. Unless I'm brewing a pot for all of us, they're more likely gonna get the pre packaged option.
How To Create A Daily Tea Time Routine
Depending on how strict you are with your "tea time" your routines might actually be on a clock. Personally, one thing's for sure, one thing's for certain... I begin & end my day with tea. Are there days that I alternate with coffee, hot chocolate, and wine? Absolutely. Most of my days, however, include at least one cup of tea.
An early morning cup of tea is my favorite because it encourages me to ease into the day. I quickly found that without it, I would spend the rest of the day feeling off balance... rushed into everything. My evening tea is a close second for favorite for the same reasons - signaling to my body that it's time to shut slow down & rest.
After a lot of experimenting, I learned that white tea is best for me for a morning tea option, especially at a higher brew temp, because it's easy on the stomach & a great caffeine boost. Throughout the day, I would alternate between green & black teas depending on my needs - green tea for my metabolism, so closer to the morning, and black tea for the flavor varieties + added bit of caffeine if needed. Y'all... black teas make really good afternoon lattes! Oolong is another one I like mid day because it's a great sweet between, no pun intended, between black & green tea. To end the day, I experiment with caffeine free herbal teas.
I've spent the past 4-ish years tweaking & repeating my tea time routine solely by listening to my body - if I was sick, menstruating, feeling anxious, feeling sluggish, etc. would all play into the tea(s) I select for the day - and there are still MANY routine varieties that I haven't explored yet, such as yellow & puerh teas.
Admittedly, I wasn't always this intentional with my teas. Tea was just tea. Learning - still learning - all the different tea varieties has been mind blowing. All the medicinal benefits, how they can interact with one another, the impacts that have on our bodies... all of the education has likely been the most revolutionary parts of this experience for me. I've become so enamored with the different origins & blends that I eventually hope to grow my own tea garden. I love how different teas make me feel throughout the day, and more importantly, how the slow down makes me feel throughout the day.
Have I convinced you to be a tea drinker yet?
I'm not saying you have to completely abandon you preferred morning beverage for tea. I didn't. I still drink coffee and hot chocolate. I still love to play around with different concoctions in my at home café. Tea, for me, is just one part of that experience, hot or cold... although my go to is hot no matter the season. Whether you decided to fully adapt a tea loving lifestyle or you decide to dabble just a lil bit, I do hope I at least convinced you to treat every hot beverage an an experience worth savoring - each sip & each moment in time.
