The sixth month of the year is beginning, a time for honoring fathers everywhere. In recognition, here are some teas that I would tend to think of as very fatherly and not to miss in June, along with some tea treats worthy of their appreciation:

1 Give Dad some choices: Best Sellers Sampler

Give your dad choices. This sampler is a convenient way for him to try some classics and see which best wets his whistle. Five bags of each in resealable pouches. No muss, no fuss, and a lot of pleasure!

Some of the flavors that are offered (substitutions may be made according to availability) – steep each (except the chamomile) for 2-5 minutes in water brought to a rolling boil:

• Buckingham Palace Garden Party Tea
• Earl Grey Cream Tea
• Darjeeling Tea
• Irish Breakfast Tea
• Camomile Herbal Infusion – Steep for 2-10 minutes, depending on your preference. Often herbals need more time to infuse properly.

2 Show Dad he’s special: English Breakfast Tea Gift Basket

Man (nor woman) does not live by tea alone, no matter how good the tea. Tea and food go together so well, in fact, that in many countries, especially Britain, having tea usually means something more like a meal with various foods involved. So this gift basket includes some very traditional tea time foods (the kind served at one of the most traditional tea times around – the cream tea). Scone mix, jam, and clotted cream are tight and cozy with some tasty tea – English Breakfast Blend No. 1 (a personal favorite) – and a sturdy teapot for steeping it. (Substitutions might be made depending on availability.)

3 Show Dad that he deserves the gold: Yorkshire Gold Loose Leaf Tea

The best Dad’s are good as gold, so some Yorkshire Gold Tea is quite appropriate. The flavor of this rich brown colored tea is malty and even better with milk and sugar. Teas from India, Sri Lanka, Africa, and elsewhere are blended just right and add a great brightness to your breakfast cuppa (but of course you can enjoy some all day long). (A good alternative is English Breakfast tea. (Get more info on the company here History of Taylors of Harrogate.)

4 Flowers are for Dads, too: Jasmine with Flowers Green Tea

Green tea from the Fujian province of China is steamed and the leaves spread out among jasmine petals to absorb their aroma. Of all the teas out there with natural floral flavors and aromas, jasmine is not one of them. It has to be added. The process has been around for centuries and is one of the most popular flavor-enhanced teas around. Dad will feel quite special. This version is the first grade below the exotic jasmines and has all the flavor, aroma, and good green tea qualities without the exorbitant price.

5 De-stress Dad with this herbal: Casablanca Caffeine Free Herbal

Dad can enjoy a cup of this caffeine-free herbal infusion after a hard day of doing dad-type things. It a combination of several fruit pieces (elderberry, apple, passion fruit, kiwi, raspberry, and strawberry) and flowers (rosehip, hibiscus, rose, sunflower, cornflowers). The flavor is so Casablancan that Dad will be saying “Play it again, Sam” before you know it!

Hope you get to try some of these during June to help you show Dad how much you appreciate him. Enjoy!

See more of A.C. Cargill’s articles here.

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