Don’t be overwhelmed by the world of tea! We want everyone to fall in love with tea and discover their perfect sip. Even if you’ve never been a huge fan of tea, you only like to dabble in tea, or you’re a tea connoisseur, we believe there’s something new to discover about tea for every type of person. Learn all about how to drink tea to find your perfect cup - from how to make it, why you should drink it, when to drink it, and definitely what not to do when making tea.
Sips by is a personalized tea discovery subscription. Each month, we match tea drinkers across the U.S. with delicious teas from over 150 global tea brands that we’re sure they’ll love. Members receive 4 teas chosen just for them in every box. Learn more about our tea subscription service.
SHOP TOP RATED TEAS
Shop the top-rated teas across all tea types and flavors as selected by Sips by's 700,000 Members. Find the best black teas, best loose leaf teas, best green teas, best herbal teas, best-bagged teas, best-caffeinated teas, best caffeine-free teas, and more.
HOW TO DRINK TEA
You might be under the impression that there is only one way to steep tea. Hot water, tea bag, and you’re done - but that’s not the case! While tea bags are one of the most popular ways to steep and brew tea leaves, there are other methods using all types of tea that require various levels of skill and produce a range of different flavors and styles of tea.
Besides a trusty tea bag, you can drink loose leaf tea with tea-infusers. Simply place loose leaf tea inside an infuser, set inside an empty mug, and pour hot water inside. Loose tea can even sometimes produce higher quality tea, although many tea bags still produce amazing tea. Sip on hot tea, or turn your favorite teas into iced tea, cold-brewed tea, sun steeped tea, instant tea, matcha, and more! Steeping times vary based on type and method, so make sure to follow our guide on how to steep (and re-steep!) tea to perfection. On top of these various kinds of tea, you can brew them using several methods with any type of teaware that suits you, from a classic cup or teapot with a tea filter to a convenient infuser mug or travel mug. Check out our guide to learn how to make the perfect cup of loose leaf tea! Plus, on hot summer days, you can still enjoy tea by steeping it in a large pitcher of cold water for iced tea, cold-brew tea, or sun steeped tea. And if you’re ready to try out a few ceremonial methods to brew tea, you can use a gaiwan for gong-fu cha or make matcha, a Japanese green tea powder, using a matcha bowl and bamboo whisk. Exploring different ways to make and drink tea is a fun way to experiment with tea to find your favorite method.
While there are a few certain steps to follow when steeping tea to ensure you get the best taste possible, it’s more important to banish the pinky-raising misconceptions that tea is only a stuffy drink for fancy occasions. The one thing you should never do when approaching tea is think that it’s too complicated or not worth it. Tea can be enjoyed any way, by anyone, anywhere! Especially at the beginning of your tea drinking journey, don’t worry about what is exactly the right way to make or sip tea because the best way to drink tea is ultimately how you enjoy it the most.
BENEFITS OF DRINKING TEA
There are several reasons to drink tea every day, including numerous benefits your brain, mood, body, sleep, and soul. Learn about the best health benefits associated with drinking tea!
BRAIN
Drinking tea can improve cognitive function by increasing your focus, memory, and concentration. Studies show that consistently drinking tea also helps you develop more organized brain regions which can lead to increased efficiency. Additionally, tea is shown to lower stress hormones in your brain and increase serotonin levels.
MOOD
The caffeine in tea not only boosts your mood but also your productivity. The gentle kick of caffeine naturally present in most teas (especially black or green tea) makes you feel more alert and ready to take on whatever comes your way, which is why one cup or two of caffeinated tea is the perfect way to start your day or have an afternoon pick me up that won’t leave you with a jittery crash. Similarly, the aromatherapeutic properties in fragrant blends such as lavender, mint, chamomile, rose, and lemon balm enhances and even aids in producing a calm and tranquil mood. So next time you’re feeling down, try steeping and savoring a fragrant tea — it’s basically a whiff of happiness in a cup!
BODY
Tea is full of powerful antioxidants that boost your immune system and help you fight common colds, the flu, and other illnesses. These polyphenols, catechins and EGCG antioxidants protect the cells in our bodies from activating the harmful chain reaction of free radicals, ultimately reducing the risk of disease, infections, blood clots, and more. It’s also a natural anti-inflammatory and antibacterial agent, meaning it’s good for your teeth by helping you fight oral infections and good for your gut by potentially killing bacteria, improving blood sugar, carbohydrate absorption, and increasing metabolism.
SLEEP
Besides the naturally soothing affect of a warm cup of tea, there’s a natural dopamine boost brought on by the amino acid L-theanine present in tea. L-theanine naturally relaxes and balances out your mood, canceling out and calming any jittery side effects from caffeine or the stresses of the day. This is one of the reasons why drinking a cup of hot tea before bed increases your quality of sleep and helps you get valuable restorative rest.
SOUL
While there are numerous practical health benefits attributed to tea, there are also deeper benefits associated with the ancient beverage. For centuries, tea has brought people together. Ceremonial rituals, social rites, and casual gatherings with friends, family, and tea all foster a sense of community by allowing the opportunity for people to gather around a beverage that was always meant to be shared.
A single cup of tea can also be a powerful tool. The practice of tea making, creating a tea ritual, and drinking it is a way to slow down and reflect, even for just a few moments out of your day. Appreciating the craft of steeping tea and noticing the scent or texture of your tea leaves, breathing in the fragrance and unique color it produced is a simple practice that unlocks a door to mindfulness.
HOW TO MAKE TEA TASTE BETTER
If you’ve never enjoyed the taste of pure tea, there are several ways to make tea taste better. The first trick you can try is adjusting the steeping time to make your tea weaker or stronger, depending on your personal preference. If you want a bolder taste, use more tea and a longer steeping time (over 5 minutes). Or, if you want a lighter cup, try using less tea than normally recommended and steeping it for a shorter amount of time (under 3 minutes).
The second thing you can do is add sweeteners or milk to your cup of tea to enhance its flavor. All types of tea can be sweetened to your liking, but only some types pair well with milk. The best type of tea to drink with milk is a bold, black tea with a robust and malty flavor. Many tea experts like to add milk to black tea because it mellows out any bitter flavor without weakening the flavor. Chai tea, which is a blend of black tea with spices, also pair perfectly with milk and sweetener for a creamy yet spicy sip. Naturally sweet and buttery teas like rooibos will also taste delicious with milk, plus some blends with a black tea base like Earl Grey or English Breakfast tea.
Milk overpowers more delicate tea blends, especially ones blended with fruit or flowers. Generally, you should never add milk to green tea, herbal teas, oolong tea, and white tea. Instead, these complex and amazing teas can be complemented by a squeeze of lemon or sweetened with sugar, a sugar alternative, or honey.
If you really want to try switching up the flavor of your tea, you can try it in a tea latte for a foamy and sweet sip, or make a delicious tea-infused cocktail like this White Tea Vodka Smash or Sweet Peach Tea Sangria.
Try more personalized teas with your own Sips by Box.
WHEN TO DRINK TEA
Did you know that teatime can be any time of the day? Because there are limitless options when it comes to tea, you can find your perfect brew (or a few!) for morning, noon, or night. Typically, a strong, caffeinated tea like Shari's Tea's Ethiopian Mocha Pu-Erh is ideal at the start of your day as an alternative to coffee. Black tea, oolong tea, and green tea are popular naturally-caffeinated teas, and give a nice jolt of energy without reaping any jittery side effects. In the afternoon, try a lighter, fragrant tea like Key to Teas’ Lavender Jade Bloom that will still act as a gentle pick-me-up for that 2pm slump. In the evening, the best way to de-stress from your day is by drinking a soothing cup. Try peaceful herbal blends, like a fragrant mint or chamomile, or a calming cup of naturally caffeine-free Sleep Breezy by OFFBLAK.
Some special occasions, social gatherings, and other experiences are all opportunities that can be enhanced by drinking tea. All over the world you can find opportunities to try out an afternoon tea experience with decadent cakes, sandwiches, and more. Also, you can catch up with a friend by taking them out for tea, or keep it casual and make a pot of tea at home. If you’re celebrating a special occasion like a holiday or birthday, try whipping up a large batch of this refreshing Mint Cucumber Iced Tea or a round of Green Tea Moscow Mules. You can even drink tea to get a glimpse of your future by learning how to read tea leaves!
Tea is also a wonderful addition to your daily routine. Whether you’re practicing self-care, reading a book, journaling, meditating, or need a pick-me-up before or after a workout, making and drinking tea immediately adds a level of wellness and relaxation to any routine or activity.
* These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. These products are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.
BEST CALMING TEA SHOP
The simple act of taking a moment to prepare a cup of tea and slow down can be calming, relieve stress, and leave you feeling a little more balanced. In this collection, you'll find tea to help reduce stress and anxiety, from soothing chamomile, to mood-boosting teas, to teas that help you sleep. We even have bath teas for relaxing soaks. Experience ritualized relaxation with a soothing cup of tea.
Interested in trying these teas and others? Subscribers receive 4 teas chosen just for them in every box. Learn more about our tea subscription box or explore the loose leaf tea shop.
About Sips by: We’re a female-founded and led startup that makes discovering tea fun, personalized, and affordable. The Sips by Box is the only multi-brand, personalized tea subscription box. Each month, we match tea drinkers across the U.S. with delicious teas from over 150 global tea brands that we’re sure they’ll love. Based out of Austin, Texas, we are adept at savoring a hot mug even when it’s seasonally inappropriate.
4 Comment
I wish I could post a picture of my ‘tea station’ I have set up. Thanks to this monthly box I have really explored my love for tea. I’ve tried so many flavors I never would have bought that it turns out I love. I have had this subscription for almost a year and I keep getting surprised with more new things to try.
My daughter got me the subscription for Mother’s Day. I am enjoying all of the new flavors and learning more about tea and embracing the journey.
Thank you and well done!
The subscription was a gift from my daughter for Mother’s Day. I had so much fun filling out the questionnaire. I am learning so much about tea. This is such a great gift, I am trying so many varieties I never heard about. I looked forward to my box each month.
Glad to have found this site. I have been a tea lover for quite some time. Can’t wait to see what you have to offer.