While I am a confirmed (decaf) coffee drinker, I also love a nice cup of tea. I’ve grown to enjoy it even more in recent years. Herbal tea allows me to enjoy a hot beverage without the side effects of caffeine consumption, because my body throws fits when I consume caffeine.
When it comes to drinking tea, I’m in good company. I’ve so enjoyed mentioning favorites in the past (often in Stuff I Love posts or Weekend Links). Then recently we hosted our 300th Episode Celebration event for our What Should I Read Next Patreon, and it felt like it turned into a tea party! Author Becky Chambers joined us to talk about her work, and when she shared her favorite teas, everyone in the chat started sharing their own. We later compiled that list in Patreon, and then patrons shared even more favorites in those comments. (We released the audio of that conversation with Chambers, Tayari Jones, and Peter Heller in the What Should I Read Next podcast feed yesterday.)
That got me thinking about my own go-to teas and tea accessories. I’ve shared most of them before—it’s hard to keep a good drink recommendation to myself!—but I hope you enjoy having them all in one handy place.
Photo credit: MMD reader Debby Hudson on Unsplash
Tea
Harney & Sons Hot Cinnamon Spice. My friend (and now team member) Leigh got me hooked on this fantastic tea, which tastes like my favorite wintry things—cinnamon, cloves, and orange, with a hint of sweetness. I stockpile the decaf when they have it in stock. (For smaller quantities, you can also order from Amazon.)
Ginger Lemon Tea. I really love this homemade ginger and lemon tisane from my friend Mel Joulwan. It’s so simple!
Stash Chai Spice. Easy, inexpensive, and wonderfully spicy.
Rishi Turmeric Ginger. I am happily addicted to this sweet and spicy cult favorite. A nice cuppa helps chilly days feel cozy instead of oppressive.
Trader Joe’s Red Refresh. An inexpensive, beautiful pink herbal blend with just the right amount of zing.
Tazo Glazed Lemon Loaf. This is a hit with all ages at my house. We now buy it in bulk.
Harney & Sons Decaf Paris. I’m so glad they made a decaf version of this popular blend.
Traditional Medicinals Throat Coat. As a podcaster, I lean on this stuff heavily, but my kids like to drink it just because. It prevents me from losing my voice after I’ve been talking for an hour, which is what usually happens.
Rishi Mystic Mint. This complex mint tea has a strong note of natural sweetness. We buy it loose by the bagful.
Tea Accessories
Curve teapot. I found the perfect teapot a few years ago. I have it in in turquoise and if I could find the shelf space, I would buy one in every color. It’s pretty and practical, doesn’t spill, and has a terrific diffuser. I bought mine from Harney and Sons (get $5 off your first order over $30 with this link), but Amazon carries the same model.
Rishi tea maker. When I’m making loose leaf tea for one, I turn to this handy tea press.
Mr. Tea Silicone Tea Infuser. These infusers always make me smile! Sometimes I use it just for fun.
What’s your favorite tea? I’d love to hear all about your go-tos in the comments.
66 comments
Our town has a wonderful tea shop called Happy Lucky’s. My favorite herbal blends from there are Egyptian Dreams and Dream Weaver, although I’ve never tried a tea I disliked there. They have a great website to shop from for anyone interested:
happyluckys.com
My absolute favorite tea of all time is Bengal Spice by Celestial Seasonings. It is a warm, cinnnamony herbal tea that satisfies all my spice loving sensibilities without the caffeine as I am hypersensitive and can’t really even handle decaf coffee. I drink it almost every single day!
Bonus pick is David’s Tea’s Forever Nuts tea that is not only warm and nutty and sweet, but it also brews pink because it has a tiny bit of beetroot in it. Can’t recommend it highly enough! 🙂
I love Bengal Spice as well. I make it with half milk/half water and it is my afternoon treat on cold winter days!
So boiling water and regular milk from fridge? Or do you warm up milk?
So good that way! It’s like a cinnamon spice latte almost 🙂
I’m jumping on the Celestial Seasonings fan train but with my favorite being their Honey Vanilla Chamomile. Sweet and soothing!
They really have some of the best herbal tea blends around. I am a huge fan of loose leaf traditionally, but i make alllll the exceptions for Celestial Seasonings 🙂
I’m a big fan of Harney & Sons tea, and right now I’m loving their herbal Pumpkin Spice. It’s full of flavor and free of caffeine! Cranberry Autumn and Chocolate Mint are also amazing.
Are all of the Harney & Sons teas as sweet as their Hot Cinnamon Sunset? I love the flavor, but find it too sweet. I drink all my coffee and tea ‘black.’
Harney carries so many teas that there are many different blends to suit many different tastes. They sell in grocery store by me, but I prefer to order since same price and free shipping. Plus, earn loyalty points. If you haven’t checked out their website, it’s worth doing since it will tell you brewing tips, briskness, etc. for each individual tea. During lockdown I really fell down the rabbit hole of their teas. They offer percentage off events quite often, too. While I also love many other companies, they are one I enjoy sharing. Also, their Royal Palaces line is carried at the Royal palaces in England. You may be interested in those. I drink my tea black too, so FYI on finding a non-sweet blend. Happy sipping and searching!
No, this is the sweetest Harney blend I’ve tried by a mile. We also stock their Paris and Vanilla black teas and neither has a hint of sweetness.
Drinking Paris right now! Such a good one! I’m also partial to the republic of tea’s blackberry sage (available in regular or decaf)!
Our new family favorite comes from The Whistling Kettle (wktea.com). It is called Snowflake ❄️ and is a black tea with almond, cinnamon, and coconut! 🫖
Another vote for Whistling Kettle! My favorite is Sencha Kyoto Cherry Rose Festival.
OMG! Yes! to Harney & Sons tea! Such a fabulous company and tea. Love that they have free shipping, always. Also love Fortnum and Mason teas. I swear by Emma Bridgewater for tea cups and tea pots. Something about the clay that makes for such a great tea sipping experience. Anyone considering don’t let shipping from England deter you….fast and great customer service. Celestial Seasonings Sleepytime and Peppermint teas are go tos in evening. I’ve been contemplating Mariage Freres tea….has anyone tried? Any recommendations, especially different Earl Grey blends.
Mariage Freres tea is wonderful. It’s a very, very, old French tea company (1854) with a huge selection. 🙂
Could you please share which blends you’ve enjoyed?
I like Harney & Sons blackcurrant tea and for a splurge, my new favorite is Steven Smith Teamaker black lavender. It is beautiful and delicious.
Those both sound delicious!
We have this amazing tea shop in our little town. Everything Tea. Their hot cinnamon spice is my favorite I like it better than Harney and Sons. ☺️ I am also love if their candy cane rooibos right now. I was inspired to look for a peppermint tea after reading Under the Whispering Door. Mmm.
https://www.everythingtea.net/shop/loose-leaf-teas/black-tea/flavored-black-teas/hot-cinnamon-spice/
https://www.everythingtea.net/shop/loose-leaf-teas/herbals-tisanes/rooibos-red-tea/candy-cane-rooibos-2/
So many wonderful teas out there! I like Moroccan Mint by Stash and Tazo’s Glazed Lemon Loaf.
I like Moroccan Mint too! One of my faves.
Teapigs liquorice and peppermint is a game-changer. I discovered it when I lived in London 8 years ago and now buy it online in bulk! It’s sweet and minty – don’t let the ‘liquorice’ part throw you.
I need to try this!!!! Oh my
Another vote for Teapig Peppermint and Licorice tea! It’s so so good—everyone who tries it absolutely loves it.
My favorite tea is Stash ‘Breakfast in Paris,’ which may be similar to the Paris tea mentioned. Black tea with a little bit of bergamot and lavender, but I’ve never seen it in a Decaf version. I need to find the Tazo lemon loaf!
Christmas in Paris is a decaf herbal tea by Stash. I love it but my store stopped carrying Stash. So disappointed.
Have you tried ordering from Stash? The company is based in Portland, Oregon. They ship very quickly.
My latest tea love is British Bee Tea Company’s Butterscotch tea, which Ginger mentioned recently on a MMD Book Club event. I also ordered their vanilla and cinnamon, which is yummy and very wintery.
My current favorites are from Twinings–English Breakfast Honey and Vanilla (to which I add a drop of honey and teaspoon of cream) and Lady Grey (which just gets the honey).
As a fellow Louisvillian, I looooove Louisville Tea Company in Lyndon. (For those not local, they ship via their website!). Their Honey Buttercream herbal tea is one of the best teas I’ve ever had.
I love:
Trader Joes Morrocan Mint Tea
Yogi Egyptian Licorice
Tazo Lemon Loaf
I can’t say enough about the Steven Smith tea maker company on the west coast. The packaging is truly beautiful for presentation and on the counter. The Silent Night herbal infusion is sweet as its name. Also loving Big Hibiscus, but Silent Night is my winter go to
Will definitely need to check out the Silent Night blend! Thanks for the recommendation. I’m thinking would go well with the Book Fairy book and chocolate tradition Anne shared with us last year. Just love that tradition and looking forward to this year!
Came here to rave about Smith Teamaker! They are my absolute favorite tea company, and I have tasted so very many teas. The Silent Night blend is one that won my family over to tea last Christmas.
I am probably THE biggest Tea Snob out there! I have tried so many different teas, and frankly, no one can beat Harney & Sons! I have an entire cabinet of their teas, both bags and loose.
That said: Simpson & Vail offers original Brown (or Blue) Betty Teapots from England at varying sizes and I adore using mine. They are made by the same company that originally created them hundreds of years ago. You can also get Lemon Curd and Clotted Cream from England through Simpson & Vail.
Ooooo! Great tip on lemon curd! I can also vouch for the Brown Betty tea pot. It seems that once I started purchasing some items it quickly became a slippery slope. Little items of joy. Thanks for the Simpson & Vail recommendation. Definitely checking out!
Oh my gosh, glazed lemon loaf!!! That stuff is amazing!!!
Present favorite all-around tea – Bigelow Green Tea with Ginger –
was never a fan of green tea but I like this and it’s easy on the stomach! Plus you can purchase at local grocery stores.
If you like to try different and unique tea blends, give August Uncomon Tea a go. My go to is Jet Black because I love coffee, but they have so many unique flavors, you won’t be able to choose just one. https://august.la/collections/tea/products/jet-black
I also love Davids Tea. Their flavor Chocolate Macaroon is my go to for a dessert substitute. https://www.davidstea.com/us_en/tea/chocolate-macaroon/10431US01VAR0017021.html
Valerian Nights is great pre-bedtime. https://www.davidstea.com/us_en/tea/tea-by-benefits/sleep/valerian-nights/10657US01VAR0044129.html?cgid=sleep#start=1
I love Constant Comment tea!
Constant Comment was the first “fancy” tea I ever had. Fond memories of drinking it back in the 1970s with my tea-loving family.
I usually drink green tea from Palais des Thés (Paris brand but they ship in the U.S.). I also love that Rishi Tumeric Ginger tea. I love the Bodum One Tea Strainer in the double-walled glass. It keeps the tea warm, which is excellent. Otherwise, I always end up drinking half and then needing to reheat my tea!
Some of my favourites:
Decaf Earl Gray – Stash
Moroccan Mint – Stash
Chai Rooibos – Four O’Clock
Zen – Tazo
My favorite tea is Stash earl grey with double bergamot.
Upton Tea Company has an amazing selection of teas, and you can learn a lot from their catalog about tea estates, regions, and processes.
Also, for those who like to give or receive subscriptions, Free Your Tea is a tea subscription box tailored to your preferences. I received it last year and it was fun.
I am a Harney and Sons tea fan especially the rose or Soho. But also love our local tea lady as well. Tea is my jam love the smell of coffee but not a drinker and my grandma and I have had tea since I was 8. Misscthose days.
My fav for the last several years is Breakfast Blend by Fortnum & Mason. It is brisk with a bite. A little cream goes perfectly with it. Anne, you can make any tea decaf. Simply cover your tea leaves/bags with boiling water and steep 30 seconds. Then pour that water off (the caffeine will have released) and then steep your tea again. It’s decaf!
Betsy, Great tip! Thank you! Good to know even for those blends that are too strong. So glad you shared!
Just LOVE this post and comments! Such a lovely community to share!
This is my favorite tea accessory-It’s called a tea buddy by Traditional Medicinals. It steeps the tea & also gives you a place to put the tea bag. Obviously, not 100% necessary but I love it anyway. 🙂
https://www.traditionalmedicinals.com/products/traditional-medicinals-tea-buddy/
Last year I got a gift of Maury’s Hive tea and it has become my absolute favorite! The tea bags (black or green in regular or decaf) come with granulated honey in them and it is the perfect amount. I loved it so much I ordered more and found out Maury is a single dad with two little kids which made me love it even more. I highly recommend!!
Question – I’m fairly new to herbal tea. Do most people add milk and/or sugar, or do you drink them plain?
For herbal teas, usually plain. 🙂 I’m sure a little almond or coconut milk would go well in some of the sweeter blends, though!
I love the Guilford Tea and Spice Exchange in Guilford, CT, they have so many wonderful teas but my all time favorite is peach turmeric (I’ve had similar ones from other companies but this one is the best). It’s so relaxing and soothing. They ship everywhere.
That sounds amazing!
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I love the Harney and Sons cinnamon spice. I buy the black tea version and the herbal version for when I want decaf and they are both so good. Stash Tea Meyer Lemon is a house favorite. I prefer it to the Tazo Lemon Loaf. It’s very bright and flavorful. I also adore this red velvet roobois from Anna Maria Tea in Liberty, MO. I haven’t found anything else that compares to it.
Thank you, that’s very helpful for me.
We have a great tea shop here, Tea Thyme, that we love to visit. One of my favorites though is Twinings honeybush, mandarin, and orange. It isn’t a wintery flavor, but it is delicious!
I ordered some Harney & Sons Hot Cinnamon Spice after seeing this post, and I’m drinking my first cup at this very moment. Amazing! I have some Rishi Ginger Turmeric waiting in the wings. Thanks for the delicious recommendations!
The best new tea I have found (and EVERYONE I introduce it to loves it too) is Teapig Licorice and Peppermint. It’s THE BOMB.
You don’t need to like licorice (in fact I hate it) or peppermint to LOVE this tea.
It’s available on Amazon, but I’ve also seen it at Whole Foods.
One of my favorites is by Mighty Leaf called African Nectar. It’s delicious!
One of my all time favorites is “Constant Comment decaf”. Thanks love the slightly sweet orange spice flavor.
My favorite teas have become the Pukka teas. I love the tumeric and also the three ginger. I also drink the TJ’s harvest one and the red one. David’s teas are also delish. I drink mainly herbal teas. Stash licorice rates high with me also and several of their other teas.
Harney and Sons HQ is in the town I grew up in, I didn’t appreciate that as a teenager and now that I live a thousand miles away I am constantly ordering the teas haha. The cinnamon and Paris are my favs too! I also love the Teavana jade citrus mint.