Time for tea?

Everybody loves a nice hot cup of tea, but if you’re stuck in a rut with the same old flavour day in day out, remember, there are loads of exotic teas to try out there. If you don’t know your darjeeling from your oolong, take a look at our guide to the wonderful world of tea, so you can try a different taste every day!

Monday - Black tea

Regular ‘builder’s’ tea, mixed with milk and sugar, is actually a type of black tea and it’s perfect for a Monday morning. As well as having a decent caffeine kick - great for the start of a working week - it’s also said to ease stress. Forget your usual tea bags; there are plenty of black teas to try, such as Darjeeling and Ceylon, and you can drink them with or without milk. Steep this tea in freshly boiled water and let it brew for 3-4 minutes to achieve the most delicious flavour.

Tuesday - Oolong tea

Oolong tea leaves are allowed to dry and wither in strong sunlight, making this brew highly oxidised and flavoursome. You may recognise it as the sort of tea that is commonly served in Chinese restaurants, so recreate that little bit of luxury at home with your own pot of oolong. To do this sweet-tasting tea justice, steep it in hot (not boiling) water for 5-10 minutes. Delicious!

Wednesday - Herbal tea

Many people swear by herbal teas, claiming they’re great for what ails you, from improving digestion to relieving stress to easing the symptoms of colds. Whether you believe the health claims or not, herbal teas do taste delicious, and they’re the perfect way to pep yourself up mid-week. There are plenty of flavours too: ginger, cinnamon, orange, parsley, rosehip, chamomile ... the list is endless!

Thursday - Peppermint tea

Nearly at the end of the working week and in need of something to keep you going? Peppermint tea is the answer! Light and refreshing, you can buy it in tea bags or make it at home with a few leaves from your own peppermint plant. There have been some trials that suggest it helps with healing and the symptoms of IBS, so steep this tea in boiling water for 10-20 minutes to get the best results.

Friday - Chocolate tea

Ah, Friday! It’s time for a relaxing evening and there’s a whole weekend ahead of you, so what better way to celebrate than with some chocolate flavoured tea? The tasty combo of tea leaves and flakes of chocolate is far healthier than a mug of hot chocolate, and it smells delicious too. So why not invite over some friends and fill up your teapot with something a little bit special?

Saturday - Flowering tea

Flowering tea might look ordinary when you take it out of the packet, but just add water and a mini miracle happens: the ball of tea leaves opens up and an entire flower blooms! Make sure you have a glass teapot for this one, so you can watch it in all its glory. Common flowering teas are the jasmine, the lily and the chrysanthemum - perfect for a Saturday afternoon treat.

Sunday - Green tea

Overdone it a little on Saturday night? There’s no better way to recover from the excesses of the night before and detox your system than with a pot of green tea. Probably the most popular type of green tea is Longjing (or ‘Dragon Well’) from China. To make a cup of this healthy brew, simply add a teaspoon of dried tea leaves to hot water and leave to steep for 2-3 minutes. 

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