There’s nothing like a cuppa to warm the soul and body. From strong black morning tea to an afternoon tea ceremony to an herbal night time tisane, there are so many different teas and ways to take your cup. Here are some of our favorite tea leaves to brew:
Traditional Medicinals Organic Echinacea Plus Seasonal Tea
A failsafe tea for when you feel a cold coming on. Amazon
Anytime a friend feels a little under the weather, I’ll run to the nearest grocery store and buy them this tea. It is infused with echinacea, or purple coneflower, which Native Americans have been using for hundreds of years, and it fires up the immune system. There’s something so soothing about the minty and herbal mixture that it just makes you feel like you’re boosting your body’s natural immune system.
A Japanese company that’s been around since the 1960s, Ito En makes some of the best tea. This matcha green tea makes perfect hot or iced tea, and is also good for you: its high antioxidant content supports wellness. With a nice amount of caffeine, it also makes a really great coffee substitute.
Pu-erh is a special type of tea that isn’t typically found in cafes: it’s a fermented tea from the Yunnan province of China. It’s usually sold in rolled tea leaves that have been pressed into cakes, and the longer you keep them around, the more coveted they are, like a fine wine. Prince of Peace makes a really easy-to-brew alternative with their single packets, and provides a rich smooth taste. The claimed health benefits include weight loss, increased energy, stress reduction, and more.
Taiwan is famous for treats like pineapple cake and beef noodle soup, but their oolong tea isn’t to be missed. Ali Shan tea is grown at an altitude of over 8,200 feet, which makes the tea leaves grow slowly and develop a distinctive earthy flavor. This tea has a bright gold-amber color and a really smooth, fragrant taste without the bitterness. Of course, it’s loaded with antioxidants, too.
Kusmi Tea St Petersburg Russian Black Blend
For a strong, full-bodied black tea that pairs nicely with milk. Amazon
There’s a reason Kusmi teas are everywhere from Paris to New York: their teas are high quality and their packaging is so pretty (and plastic-free, to boot) that it’s perfect for gifting too. This Russian black tea has notes of bergamot, red berry, and caramel, and provides all the caffeine you’d want in the morning. For those who take milk in their tea, this makes for the perfect blend.
With cute packaging and pyramid shaped tea bags, teapigs makes a variety of teas that are all really good. One of the best is their peppermint tea, which has such a refreshing minty taste. It’s caffeine-free, so it’s good to drink all throughout the day if you’ve reached your caffeine limit but still want a warm beverage, and it’s the perfect cup to have right before bed or at the end of a long night out.