There’s nothing quite like sipping your favorite hot drink on a brisk winter day. Many of us are quick to brew a cup of our usual selection at the start of the workday, whether it’s coffee, hot cocoa, or tea. Tea is a popular beverage that is enjoyed all over the world and not just recently – tea has been a favorite drink in various cultures for centuries. Hot or cold, sweetened or unsweetened, tea is definitely a staple in the office. There are many different ways to prepare tea and be creative with your own brew in the breakroom.
If you are more of a coffee drinker, don’t worry! Just take a look at our previous blog, here.
While tea is often brewed plain with a sweetener added, many cultures around the world add a little something extra. British Milk Tea is the long-standing practice of adding milk or cream to a sturdy black tea like Earl Grey or English Breakfast tea. A.H. offers a selection of strong black tea brands including Bigelow, Tazo, Lipton and Twinings. We even carry decaf black tea, green tea, and herbal teas for those who prefer non-caffeinated products. Don’t have milk on hand? Try adding some liquid half & half creamer from the coffee bar instead. A.H. offers Nestle Carnation Half & Half creamer cups for convenience. Add a bit of sweetener if you like, and you’ve created a simple but game-changing cup of British-style milk tea.
Hong Kong-inspired milk tea is similarly created by brewing a strong black tea (Lipton is a popular black tea brand you might find in your breakroom). Here is the secret – just add a bit of sweetened condensed milk and/or evaporated milk to suit your taste. While this type of milk is not something you would typically find on your breakroom countertop, condensed and evaporated milk is easy enough for you to pick up at the store in cans. It has a longer shelf life so you can keep it on-hand for the days you want to try something different with your tea.
Like other teas, Chai Tea is available in loose form or in tea bags. It is a wonderfully spiced tea no matter how it is prepared. If you enjoy Chai Tea, be sure to add a touch of milk or non-dairy product of your choice to fully experience this spicy tea blend. Adding a milk product can help cut the mild bitterness associated with strong black teas and offer a more mellow brew.
Don’t forget that any tea can become iced tea with refrigeration and a bit of time! Just brew your favorite tea and store it in your fridge to chill. Alternatively, you can create cold-brew tea by adding your tea bags to unheated water. You can leave your covered container outside to steep under the sun (traditional Sun Tea) or even in your office fridge. These methods will take additional time compared to brewing tea with hot water, but some say it results in a milder taste.
To jazz up your usual drink whether it is a black tea, herbal tea, green tea, or anything else, consider adding a bit of lemon juice or trying honey instead of sugar just to switch things up. Honey is a wonderful addition to tea and can subtly change the flavor in a pleasing way. There are even different types of honey that have their own unique flavor profiles. Honeys are particularly used to compliment herbal and floral tea blends.
Whether you select a soothing cup of tea or a tea with a kick of caffeine to help you through your busy workday, it can be nice to add a bit of variety to your drink. With a little creativity, you can tweak your tea recipe to perfection.
If your goal is simply to stay hydrated in the office, be on the lookout for our next blog where we go over ways to add a twist to plain drinking water.
