It probably comes as no surprise that we love tea enough to drink it every day. Along with captivating natural flavors, the very act of brewing can have a host of benefits that can make any day better. Here are eight good reasons to consider the way in which tea fits into your daily routine.

Explore brewing methods and discover how to fit tea into your daily life >>

1. Tea is a delicious way to hydrate.

Staying hydrated is one of the simplest ways to feel better on a regular basis, but plain old water often pales in comparison to sweet drinks like soda, juice, or other bottled beverages. Adding variety and flavor to readily available tap water with tea can make it easier and more appealing to drink enough water during the day, without spending extra money or consuming extra sugar.

2. Drinking tea can reduce cravings for unhealthy snacks.

Moments of boredom or other emotional cues can trigger cravings for snacks when we’re not truly hungry. Turning to tea instead of cookies or candy in moments of turmoil can help fend off these types of cravings. As an added bonus, tea offers many essential vitamins, minerals, and beneficial antioxidants in place of empty, sugary calories.

Learn why tea is good for your health >>

3. Tea boosts energy and focus.

Not only is tea a healthier alternative to sweet drinks and snacks, but it also contains a unique combination of caffeine and theanine that boosts energy without the jitters of coffee or the crash of a sugar rush. Low levels of caffeine are tempered by L-theanine, which stimulates production of dopamine and serotonin in the brain and produces calm and focus for productive work.

Find out more about L-theanine >>

4. Brewing tea is an opportunity to practice mindfulness.

The unusual properties of theanine are part of what has made it popular among meditators worldwide for centuries. In the midst of a stressful modern life, the act of brewing a cup of tea is a good opportunity to slow down and create space for gratitude and silence. Plus, no matter how you brew your tea, it will always taste better if you’re paying attention.

Check out our step-by-step guide to a short, relaxing tea routine >>

5. Practice makes for a perfect brewing technique.

Brewing daily also creates opportunity to practice brewing, and determine the best techniques to make the most of every leaf. Since flavor preferences vary widely from palate to palate, we encourage experimentation with brewing methods. Play with the balance of leaf quantity, water temperature, and brewing time to find your favorite way to brew every tea in your cupboard.

Learn how to adjust your brew for better flavor with these tips >>

6. Consistent use will season your teaware.

If you’ve invested in specialized teaware like Yixing or other unglazed clay, repeated use with the same type of tea will ‘season’ the pot over time and ultimately intensify the aromas and flavors of your favorite brews. Rather than accelerating the seasoning process, we prefer to let it happen in the more traditional way, over time with regular use.

Find out how to season and use yixing teapots >>

7. Tasting more teas trains your palate.

With endless varieties of traditional tea that develop and change with each new season, the list of teas we want to try is never-ending. If we didn’t drink tea daily, we’d never taste them all! Though we sometimes indulge in tasting marathons during sourcing season, we often find quality easier to discern when we put teas through the rigor of our daily tea practice.

Learn how to train your tasting palate >>

8. Most tea tastes best fresh.

It is often tempting to save our favorite teas for special occasions, but most teas are best enjoyed within a year of harvest for optimal flavor. Slowing down for a daily tea ritual can help us savor the teas that feel exceptional without hoarding them until they begin to go stale. If you have a stockpile of tea like we do, it might be time to stop collecting and start brewing!

To get the most out of every cup, check out our step-by-step guide to gong fu cha or watch Alice demonstrate in the video below:

Do you have a daily tea ritual? Tell us what you love about it in the comments below!

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