This is the month that finishes out Spring and heads into Summer. It’s a time to plant and tend crops and gardens, to celebrate Dads everywhere, for kids to celebrate being off from school, and for you to wrap up your first half of the year projects. Let’s see what tea can do for us this time around.

1 A tea for you folks who are finally getting some Spring weather: Snow Dragon White Tea (sorry, I couldn’t resist)

May weather was full of surprises for many folks here in the U.S.  Blizzards, sleet, strong winds, and very unseasonable temperatures affected folks in Colorado, Wyoming, the Dakotas, Kansas, Oklahoma, and more. I’m sure you all endured with lots of pots of hot tea. Give this one a try for those warm weather days you will certainly have in June. For best visual pleasure while steeping, use a glass teapot, teacup, or gaiwan. Pop a few of these leaves shaped in spirals into some hot water and watch as the tiny snow dragons roar to life. Each dragon is hand molded from selected downy covered leaves. They release a pungent and jammy flavor into the water, creating a liquid that is very sippable and soothing. My review.

2 Something to sip while you watch your garden grow…and that rabbit nibble on your lettuce: Pomegranate Hibiscus Flavored Green Tea

I always remember the scene in the movie Phenomenon when the John Travolta character discovers that he has fenced that pesky rabbit inside his garden instead of outside! A cup of this tea will improve your brain power so that you won’t make the same mistake. The flavor is a tart combination of pomegranate and hibiscus. It is believed that the first instance of mixing dried hibiscus petals and pomegranate took place on Easter Island by Polynesian migrants. When pomegranate reached the island, the natives were intrigued, and soon after, the pomegranate juice was blended with the plentiful hibiscus petals. This delicious naturally flavored tea is created using a Hunan Sencha style green tea, and is wonderful when served hot or iced. Steep for 1-4 minutes in water that is steaming.

3 A Father’s Day fun tea that will even let you have the keys to the car: Chocolate Flavored Black Tea

For those of us who grew up with a father, we know how they can influence our lives. My dad kept the cars running (back when engines were a lot simpler than they are today), fixed things around the house, and worked three jobs to keep us fed, clothed, and supplied with some extras that made life a bit more fun. Through it all he managed to instill in us good values and a sense of humor. Your father is probably pretty special, too, so toast him with a truly decadent chocolate flavored Ceylon tea that pairs well with a bit of milk and sugar. Steep for 2-5 minutes in water that has been brought to a rolling boil.

4 All you lovers of iced tea will need to give this one a try over ice or chilled: Shangri La Spring Melon Green Brew Iced Tea

Front porches, back decks/patios, balconies, or under shady trees — there is no bad place to sit and sip on some cool tea. This one was voted 2008’s World Tea Championship’s Best Iced Tea and can be enjoyed straight or with sugar. The resealable pouch keeps the tea fresh between steepings. You can brew on your stovetop or in your coffee maker, or in a normal teapot, of course.

5 A tea to celebrate the end of the first half of the year and all you’ve accomplished so far: Revolution White Pear Tea

Pears are a wonderful fruit with a delicacy and sweetness that entices but does not overwhelm. Yet, it seems to have that celebratory character that other fruits do not. Maybe it’s just my own perception, though. Such a light tasting fruit is great to pair with white tea. It also helps you in your calm (sorta) reflection on the first six months of the year now almost gone. Revolution is one of those teas that uses the special “silken” teabags. You won’t get any strange teabag taste when you use them. (Nevertheless, I’ll still cut them open and steep the tea inside loose in the pot.)

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