Tea Blog

Summer is a relative concept—and it can influence how you enjoy your tea.

Growing up in the Northeast, summer meant pools opening on Memorial Day, school letting out, and a stretch of hot weather through Labor Day.

That included the “dog days” of summer—the hottest, most humid stretch of the year.

Things are quite different now that I live in Arizona, where summer-like weather can stretch from March through October. Of course, it’s a completely different story in colder places like Alaska.

My esteemed editor has also explored this topic in

an article on the dog days of summer and tea drinking
,
so I won’t dwell too much on definitions.

In short, the dog days occur in July and August and take their name from the ancient Roman association with Sirius, the Dog Star.

Tea Choices During the Dog Days

If you live in a region with distinct seasons, this time of year is still prime territory for iced tea.

Hot weather and iced tea are a natural pairing—especially in the United States, where iced tea consumption far outpaces hot tea in the summer months.

That said, some studies suggest that hot beverages may actually have a cooling effect when consumed in warm weather.

For a closer look at this idea, see this

Smithsonian article explaining how hot drinks can help cool the body

and related research on heat regulation.

Personally, I remain skeptical of the theory. Like many Americans, I still reach for a glass of iced tea when the temperature rises.

Whether or not iced tea can warm you in cold weather is another question entirely—but I have my doubts.

For most people, as summer fades, attention gradually turns back to hot tea as a way to ward off cooler temperatures.

As for my own preferences, I’ve written more about them in this

personal reflection on tea drinking habits and preferences
.

See more of William I. Lengeman’s articles

here
.

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