Happy New Year! Welcome to January and welcome to National Hot Tea Month! That means this month we will celebrate all things hot tea. It is early in what may be a long and cold winter for some, so it has never been a more perfect time to drink more tea.

What are some good ways to celebrate National Hot Tea Month? You might already be celebrating it! But in case you are in need of some ideas, why not try these:

New Year’s Resolution: As I have said in the past, with New Year’s resolutions being made, some of us might resolve to drink more tea. You can challenge yourself and try to go this month without coffee. Switch your morning joe for a cuppa and see how you feel. If you like the change, keep it. Can’t go without coffee? No problem! You can add a cup of tea to your day (like the afternoon) in addition to your coffee.

New Year, New Tea: Want to try something new? Why not try something different from your normal brew? Do you normally drink black tea but want to venture into a different type? Maybe some green tea or or white tea? Enjoy some jasmine with flowers green tea or a fusion of green and white like this one from Stash. Or how about something completely new like Darjeeling? You never know if you do not take the leap!

Cut Out the Caffeine: If you are trying to cut out caffeine (or at least reduce your intake), it’s a little hard at times but tea can help make it easy. Rooibos and herbal teas are some of the best routes one can take. Rooibos teas come from South Africa, often known as “red tea”. It is also a little sweet, so it can be good for an after-dinner tea. Herbal teas can often be enjoyed right before bed, since they are often made from herbs, fruits, and flowers, like chamomile. My choice for chamomile is Twinings Winter Spice, an apple flavored chamomile tea with spices like cinnamon, cardamom, and clove.

Do you have a favorite hot tea? Or are you an iced tea person? If you took on any of these challenges this month, tell us how you did.

Happy Hot Tea Month!

-CD