Blackcurrant Naturally Flavored Black Tea – great hot or cold!
Although Americans drink roughly eighty percent of their tea in iced form rather than hot, the arrival of summer can feel like bad news for those who prefer a steaming cup. Iced tea is refreshing and practical in warm weather, but for many tea drinkers, it simply isn’t the same as slowly savoring a hot brew.
Personally, giving up hot tea during the summer is not something I’m willing to do. There have been plenty of occasions where I’ve brewed a pot on a sweltering day and dutifully finished it—despite the heat.
This habit has sparked many debates among fellow tea drinkers. Some find the idea of drinking something hot in warm weather completely unappealing, while others, like me, continue the practice year-round. Admittedly, it doesn’t quite match the comfort of a hot cup on a cold day, but there’s something satisfying about maintaining the ritual regardless of the season.
Interestingly, I’ve often noticed that drinking hot tea can leave me feeling cooler afterward, even when logic might suggest the opposite. For a long time, I attributed this to perception—perhaps the temperature contrast made the surrounding air feel cooler.
However, there may be more to it than that. As explored in this explanation of how hot drinks can activate the body’s cooling response, consuming a hot beverage can stimulate sweating. Once this natural cooling mechanism kicks in, the body may actually end up cooler overall than it was before.
Of course, not everyone experiences this effect in the same way. Some people find that hot drinks simply make them feel hotter, which may come down to differences in how individuals regulate temperature and respond to environmental conditions.
In the end, whether hot tea in summer feels refreshing or overwhelming is largely a matter of personal preference. But for those who have avoided it out of concern for the heat, it may be worth trying—you might find it more enjoyable, and even more cooling, than expected.
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