How to Celebrate Hot Tea Month

January is National Hot Tea Month. Hot tea sooths the throat and warms the body on chilly winter days. Hot tea is good year-round for a relaxing warm beverage rich in antioxidants. Teas can be soothing or stimulating. Hot tea can be made from brewed, instant or bottled varieties. Here are ways to start celebrating Hot Tea Month.

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Loose leaf tea
• Tea bags
• Tea ball or perforated tea spoon
• Tea cup

Buy True Teas

1. 
   Oolong loose leaf tea

   Shop for true teas such as green, black, oolong and white. These teas come from the tea plant Camellia sinensis and are the foundation for other teas. Buy a loose-leaf variety. The tea leaves are loose and not in a steeping bag. Serious tea drinkers use loose tea for fuller flavor.

2. 
   Twinings' gunpowder tea

   Find a specialty shop with unique tea blends. Gourmet and specialty groceries often have a staffed coffee or tea section. Ask for advice on loose teas, bagged teas and infusers. An infuser is a perforated tea ball or tea spoon. Loose leaves are put in the infusers for easy removal. Look at tea cups and tea cozies. If you brew tea in a pot, the cozy covers the teapot and keeps the pot warm longer.

3. 
   Pickwick tea

   Visit a tearoom or tea shop. Tea shops offer an amazing variety of teas and serving ideas. Many offer tea tasting and classes. Tea service ranges from casual tea twosomes to afternoon teas with conversations and sweet desserts. Tearooms are often located in hotels and restaurants.

4. 
   Nice cup of tea

   Invite friends for a tea party. Set up a buffet of light sandwiches and delicate cookies. Spread out loose, bagged and instant teas. Invite guests to bring a favorite tea for sharing. You need hot water, tea cups, teapots, infusers and spoons. Tea lovers often add milk, lemon or sweeteners to their tea. You provide the tea and buffet. Let guests serve themselves.

5. 
   Milk clouds in tea

   Salute Hot Tea Month with a party for one. Choose a special tea. For one cup of tea use one to two teaspoons of loose leaves in an infuser or use your favorite teabag. Bring cold water to a rolling boil and pour over the tea. Steep for one to five minutes. Remove leaves. Sit back and relax. As Catherine Douzel said, "Each cup of tea represents an imaginary voyage. "

Resources

• Tea Room Directory

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[schmammel]

on 11/13/2009 Great hot tea month article