Did somebody say tea time?
By Eva Nelson, Reporter
Recently, I have become the person that is running late because she had to get her London Fog, and I am not ashamed of it. Now, almost everywhere I go, I am carrying some sort of cup with a hot drink in it. It may seem like an odd topic to bring up in a school newspaper, but that’s probably because you simply think tea is underwhelming. Hopefully, I will change your mind by explaining my favorite types of teas throughout the year, and how perfect they can make your morning or night routine.
I first started enjoying tea during quarantine because it was something that I could do out of boredom. It was something that I could drink while relaxing at the end of the day. I would often drink herbal teas with all types of herbs and flavors. From citrus teas like blood orange to teas with springy peppermint flavors, I appreciated the ritual of sitting down and drinking tea to calm myself down. Because you have to take the time to boil the water and steep the tea to perfection, it gives you time to reflect and think about your day as you sip on something that is soothing. As my night tea became a routine, I started wanting tea during the day as well. I realized that, in my mind, certain teas should go with certain seasons.
Chai will always be a tea that reminds me of the summer time because I prefer it to be an iced tea. Though I enjoy Chai as a summer tea, a lot of people also enjoy it as a hot tea during the winter months as well. Chai is a traditional tea that originated from India and is made with spices like cardamom and nutmeg that give it an earthy taste. Chai is almost always drunk with milk because the milk balances out the more intense spices. It tends to have caffeine in it because it is a variant of black tea; therefore, this tea can perk you up as you sip throughout your day. During the summer and sometimes the spring, if I wanted to jump the gun, I would buy chai from any grocery store and let it steep overnight to get a rich flavor. The next day, I would use whatever milk I had on hand to make an iced chai latte. Though I personally enjoy Chai as a summer tea, a lot of people also enjoy it as a hot tea during the winter months.
On the other hand, because earl gray tea is almost always drunk hot, I classify this as more of a fall and winter tea that can heat you up as it gets chilly out. Earl gray is a common black tea that has hints of bergamot. My current favorite way to drink this tea is in a London Fog. A London Fog is a drink made with earl gray tea, milk, and vanilla syrup to create a more creamy and sweet version of the original tea. It is a drink that isn’t too rich in flavor but has just enough tang to keep you sipping happily. This drink also has caffeine because it is a version of black tea, so it can wake you up when you sometimes get sleepy during those winter months.
After all that being said, tea is something that I believe can be beneficial for anyone, so I hope you can sit down and enjoy a nice London Fog sometime soon. I know I’ll have one in hand this winter season.