Break out your hats and gloves, and throw another log on the fire!

When winter weather comes to town, it’s easy to get carried away with all the hustle and bustle that comes with the season. Whether you’re keeping cozy on the couch or carving out some much needed relaxation time, we all know that tea is the perfect cold weather brew.

 Tea is Perfect for Cozy Nights!

Let’s face it – sometimes, you just want to get out of the elements and snuggle up by the fire. Tea is the perfect companion. So go ahead – cozy up with one of your favorite teas and turn on your favorite winter weather playlist.

Or make a night of it! Find a full concert or listen to a record all the way through: whether it’s Bing Crosby’s White Christmas radio broadcast, your favorite band’s newest release, or Tchaikovsky’s Nutcracker Suite, just take a couple of hours out of the evening to listen all the way through.

No fighting for tickets, no traffic, and your favorite tea by your side!

Our picks for a night at home? Master Zhang’s 2005 Aged Tieguanyin, the He Family’s Laoshan Roasted Oolong, or Yunnan White Jasmine.

 No Party like a Tea Party!

When the weather is cold and frightful, we all need an excuse for a party!  And there’s no party like a tea party ?

This cold weather season, give yourself an excuse to break out something really special and invite over the whole crew for a tea tasting.

Make a night of it! Pull out your favorite tea ware, set the table, light some candles and set the mood with a cold weather playlist.  Or make it fun with interactive party favors: tasting notebooks and pens! Nothing makes great tea taste better like tasting something special with the people you love – and the people who love tea, too!

Who knows? This could become a new tradition.

For more, check out all of our tips for How to Host a Tea Tasting.

Keep Calm and Make Tea

Let’s admit it: the winter holidays can be really stressful! From door-buster winter sales and the same songs on repeat everywhere you go, to cold weather blues and not enough sunshine, stress can build up without you even noticing.

Carve out some time for yourself with tea. Whether your taking back a few moments respite with a hot mug of tea in the morning, or setting aside a few hours for some meditative solo gongfu time, tea can give you the excuse you need to slow down, relax, and enjoy the season.

Our picks for a clear head? Try Autumn Tieguanyin, 2016 Bai Hao Yin Zhen or the 2016 Qianjiazhai Gu Hua Sheng Pu’er.

Good times, on the go!

Going on a sleigh ride? Whether you’re walking in a winter wonderland or off to Grandmother’s house, you can take your tea on the go and keep warm in the great outdoors!

Pack yourself tea in a thermos and keep warm as you snow shoe, ice skate, ski, sled and more on your own and with friends and family this winter season.

Our favorite? Laoshan Black or Shui Xian

Try a Hot Toddy!

Tea is a fantastic – though often overlooked – mixer.  It plays well with fine spirits of all sorts, even beyond traditional hot toddy stand by’s like whisk(e)y and bourbon.

Traditionally, a hot toddy is a mix of a dark spirit (like bourbon), hot tea, a sweetener (like honey), and a squeeze of lemon (citrus garnish). However, the concept can be applied to many other spirits, depending on your tea! The idea is to create a low proof, warm cocktail – sweetened and diluted with tea for something that’s a little more accessible on cold nights.

Want to try making a hot toddy yourself? Check out a few of our recipes, or try something new.  Always remember to enjoy safely and responsibly!

Making drinks for the whole crew? You can always mix tea in family friendly mocktails, too! Upgrade your tea and honey with more unusual sweeteners, aromatic bitters, or fun citrus garnishes.  Just leave out the alcohol, or if you’re looking for a bit of structure and bite without imbibing, experiment with a little splash of drinking vinegar or cane sugar vinegar.