by Lisa Richardson [reposted from our sister blog]

Peppermint tea is a refreshing drink that many tea lovers adore. It is made a variety of ways, including from peppermint leaves or from blending peppermint with traditional tea blends. Sometimes, spearmint is also used, giving a different minty taste to the tea. Peppermint tea is sometimes just called mint tea. However, there is also a blend of mint tea that is made from mint, not peppermint.

Peppermint tea is most popular during the winter months, especially during the holidays. With a weaker taste than candy canes but still with a wintry bite, peppermint tea is a great holiday choice. The taste of peppermint tea is refreshing and renewing, much like the taste of peppermint alone. Most often when something is peppermint flavored, it is much stronger than the tea would be, because tea blends tend to have less artificial flavoring.

Many people who do not generally enjoy the taste of peppermint like peppermint tea. There are a number of theories as to why this is the case, but it may be because the strength of the tea can be adjusted based on steeping times while brewing, and a cup of peppermint tea can even be sweetened with sugar. There are also a number of tea lovers who say that peppermint tea does not actually taste like peppermint. It is true that depending on the blend you select, the flavor can seem similar or different than what you recognize as peppermint. Additionally, many tea lovers believe that peppermint tea offers even more health benefits than a regular cup of tea, which makes this great blend even more popular.