Cozy winter tea flavors
Whereas in spring we often turn to light, floral teas, and in summer we enjoy fruity flavored blends, in winter we're all about warmth and sweetness.
1. Spiced chai blends
When the temperatures plunge, nothing hits the spot like a good cup of chai (preferably with a generous helping of milk and sugar). We carry a variety of chai blends, including our traditional Masala Chai as well as a caffeine-free Rooibos Chai and a Green Tea Chai.
Our pick: Chimayo Chai Black Tea
Our favorite cold-weather chai blend is probably Chimayo Chai. Taking inspiration from our New Mexico roots, Chimayo Chai blends chai with crushed red chile flakes. Enjoy it in the classic way as a sweet, milky chai—or, if you’re brave, try it straight for a fiery cup.
2. Smoky teas
Is there anything better than curling up in front of a crackling fire with a cup of tea and a good book (bonus points if it's snowing)? But even if you don't have a fireplace handy, these smoky teas can help to get you in a cozy winter spirit. From classic Lapsang Souching to creative blends like Santa Fe Sage, there are plenty of smoke-infused teas to choose from in our collection.
Our pick: Santa Fe Sage Black Tea
Santa Fe Sage combines Lapsang Souchong black tea, Nilgiri black tea, anise seed, juniper berries, white sage, and cinnamon for an intensely aromatic, slightly smoky tea that embodies the spirit of Santa Fe. Delicious on its own, this tea also goes well with honey and makes an excellent tea latte.
3. Dessert teas
Winter teas are all about what is cozy and comforting, and you can't get much more comforting than a sweet, satisfying dessert tea blend. These teas are naturally sweet without any added sugar or artificial sweetener, so you can feel good about indulging your sweet tooth. And if you're looking to make them even sweeter, a dollop of honey and a splash of milk rarely goes amiss!
Our pick: Vanilla Rooibos Herbal Tea
Our Vanilla Rooibos is rich and sweet, with a full body and a smooth finish. One of our team members has dubbed this her "bourbon blend"—it has all of the delicious warmth of a good bourbon, but without any of the alcohol. And since it's naturally caffeine-free, it won't keep you up at night. This decadent tea is great on its own or with a splash of milk and sweetener, and makes a perfect after-dinner cup!
4. Toasty teas
When the temperature dip we find ourselves reaching for toasty, roasty teas to warm up with. Whether the teas themselves are roasted, or feature warming, toasty flavors, blends like Genmaicha Matcha and Hojicha are great fits with the winter months.
Our pick: Hojicha Roasted Green Tea
Hojicha is a roasted Japanese green tea made from the stems and leaves of the tea plant. This classic tea brews up into a lovely golden-brown umber color with a warm and nutty flavor. Sourced from Shizuoka, Japan, our Hojicha is soothing, nourishing, and satisfying.
5. Pu-erh teas
Pu-erh are a type of aged black tea produced in China. Teas that, in the western world, we often refer to as "black", in China they refer to as "red". The moniker of "black tea" is reserved there for these special aged teas, also called heicha. Pu-erh teas are partially fermented, and this aging process results in a smooth tea with a full body and none of the tannic bite of a black tea. Pu-erh teas are also often very dark in color, sometimes almost inky-looking. They have an earthy, sometimes even mushroom-like flavor that can be surprising at first, but which is highly sought after by pu-erh enthusiasts. We think these cozy, satisfying teas are perfect for winter.
Our pick: Caramel Pu-erh
This dark, rich tea combines the sweet decadence of caramel with the earthy depth of flavor of an aged pu-erh to create something akin to dessert in a teacup. Smooth and full-bodied with a naturally sweet finish, this tea is supremely cozy—perfect for an afternoon pick-me-up. Excellent with a splash of milk.
6. Ginger teas
From gingersnaps to gingerbread houses to ginger-infused culinary dishes, ginger is a wonderful holiday spice. Our ginger teas are a great pick for chilly weather—they're warming, slightly spicy, and have all the beneficial properties of ginger root. Our ginger teas often feature complimentary cozy, good-for-you ingredients like turmeric, lemongrass, licorice root, and more.
Our pick: Atomic Gold Herbal Tea
Sweet and spicy, warm and soothing, and packed with powerhouse ingredients, Atomic Gold is our most popular herbal tea! This remarkable blend of turmeric, ginger, licorice, lemongrass, and orange has a deep and satisfying flavor and brews up a beautiful bright gold color.
