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Taking Tea on a Hike

Most people in my area probably don’t do much hiking at this time of year, since temperatures often exceed one hundred degrees. With humidity in the low single digits, staying well hydrated is essential.

Of course, hydration is important regardless of conditions, and tea can serve just as well as many other beverages when it comes to keeping fluids up.

Grand Canyon hiking landscape


The Grand Canyon—a great hiking destination, though not exactly a tea room

There’s a common belief that caffeinated beverages like tea may not be ideal for hydration during exercise.

I explored this topic in more detail in earlier posts, including

an analysis of tea, exercise performance, and hydration effects

and

a breakdown of caffeine in tea and its impact on hydration levels
.

If you’re bringing tea along on a hike, iced tea is usually the simplest option—you can prepare it ahead of time and avoid carrying brewing equipment.

For longer trips, though, you might consider bringing minimal tea-making gear if you’re packing for multiple days.

In the past, I relied on hydration packs, which allow for easy transport of large amounts of liquid. However, cleaning and drying the internal bladder can be a chore.

A simpler alternative is using large water bottles, which are easier to maintain and can be replaced as needed.

These days, if I head out on a hike, I’d skip the water and bring tea instead—if possible.

A robust

Assam black tea with bold flavor well-suited for iced tea and outdoor use

would be an excellent choice.

If you plan to brew tea on the trail, you might want to read

this article on portable tea brewing gear designed for outdoor use
,
which highlights a clever gadget for making tea on the go.

See more of William I. Lengeman’s articles

on the tea blog author archive page
.

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