October 16th, 2010
With the recent drop in temperature, I have found myself drinking more tea.
I love all the aspects of drinking tea- the warmth of the cup in my hand, the different flavors and effects (an energizing green tea in the morning and a soothing chamomile at nighttime), the hydration factor during our dry Utah autumns, and the health benefits. I like to drink it with a dollop of local Utah honey. It’s easy to make and it makes plain water feel special with little to no added calories.
There’s also a spiritual aspect to it. It feels special. It reminds me of having tea parties with my dolls as a little girl. It also brings back memories of learning the rituals of a Japanese tea ceremony.
So to celebrate the change of season, I wanted to write a round-up of my favorite teas. I have tried a wide range of teas on the market and these, I believe, are the very best.
Guayaki Organic Yerba Mate – Mate Chocolatte
When I need to get going in the morning, Yerba Mate is my go-to beverage of choice. It is made from the leaves of Amazonian rainforest tree. South Americans called it the “drink of the gods”. I regularly enjoy several different varieties, including drinking loose-leaf out of a gourd with a bombilla.
Here is a gourd.
You pack if full of the leaves and drink through the bombilla- a modified straw that strains out the leaves. Traditionally, it is passed and shared among friends. It is a symbol of hospitality. It has a delicious earthy flavor. If you aren’t quite ready for the gourd, they make tea bags as well. For fall and winter, one of my favorite one varieties is mate chocolatte (also recommend the chai spice mate). It is so sweet and delicious, it’s almost like candy. It is a mix of yerba mate, spices and cocoa. It also goes well with almond, rice, soy, hemp or regular milk. This one is a must try!
Two Leaves and a Bud Gen Mai Cha
In the afternoons when I need a little pick me up, I like to drink green tea. Gen Mai Cha is one of my favorite greens. While many different companies make this type of tea, I am partial to the Two Leaves and a Bud brand.
Gen Mai Cha is a great spin on green tea. It is sencha green tea mixed with puffed brown rice. It has the earthy grassy flavor of a Japanese green tea with a subtle nutty smokiness from the puffed rice. It’s naturally sweet from the brown rice and it has a subtle undertone of rice krispies!
One of the reasons I am partial to this brand is because of their tea satchels. 
They were one of the pioneers of the pyramid tea satchel that allows the leaves to expand and develop their full flavors. The satchels are made from a compostable corn based nylon. They also offer many organic teas which is important because no one wants to drink tea leaves that have been doused in pesticides.
Good Earth Teas
My friend Cait Phillips turned me onto the next one on my round-up – Good Earth Organic Original. I like to drink this one in the late afternoon and evening when I’m ready to wind down and relax. When I lived in LA, I would always brew this one when I got home from surfing to warm up. It’s also a great apres ski tea.
This one has an exciting combination of flavors – red rooibos, chicory root, rosehips, honeybush, lemongrass, peppermint, chamomile, and orange. It is naturally sweet and goes well with an afternoon sweet snack or with a fresh orange peel.
Celestial Seasonings Sleepytime Tea
Lately, I’ve been enjoying this Sleepytime tea before bed. It has the sweet floral notes of chamomile but it’s balanced with spearmint, lemongrass, tilia flowers, blackberry leaves, orange blossoms, hawthorn and rosebuds. I usually drink it with a little bit of honey and it soothes my throat before bed.
Sleepytime tea is a good one to drink to wind down after a long, active day.
If you want to learn more about tea, I recommend heading to the Tea Grotto in Salt Lake City, UT. They have a huge selection that you can drink in store or buy in bulk to take home. It is a fun place to hang out and their knowledgeable and friendly staff will answer any and all tea related questions.
For a tea related dining experience, head to House of Tibet located at 145 E 1300 S, Salt Lake City, UT, and try their butter or milk tea. While you are there, you have to taste the momos, which are a type of dumpling.
With all the health benefits of drinking tea, I hope you can find some teas that you like and make it a part of your daily ritual. I’m always looking for new and exciting teas so please feel free to share your favorites by leaving a comment.
Enjoy. 🙂
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