8 reasons to love tea in the winter

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Who else is excited for the return of Downton Abbey in a few days? The countdown is on in my house, and I can hardly wait. While my life is not all that of Lady Mary and the rest of the Crawleys or of their servants, we all have one thing in common: love of tea. I’ve tried ringing a bell and hoping that it means someone will bring a cup of steaming Bigelow tea to me, but sadly, nothing happens and I make my own.

I still enjoy it, though, and have recently realized that it makes me very, very happy. Here are a few reasons why I’m really loving tea this winter:

1. Tea parties are a great excuse to be fancy.

I may not live in Downton Abbey, but I love a good tea party. It’s so fun to use the tea cup collection that I inherited from my great-grandmother. The tea cups are fragile and carry great sentimental meaning, so I’m always more careful when using them, and move a bit slower. Taking some time to be slower and more intentional can be so very good. It’s also good for my daughter and I have plans to have a tea party together.

2. Tea is a go-to remedy during cough/cold season for a reason.

While I’ve liked tea for a while, I’ve become particularly attached to it after spend most of this month fighting bronchitis. I find that I’m sipping Bigelow tea morning, noon, and night. Lemon Ginger Herbal Tea from Bigelow Tea is my go to when I don’t feel well, and it works wonders for soothing my throat and quieting a cough. Tea just made me feel not quite so crummy. I’m not a doctor, but tea with lemon and honey is the time-tested way to feel better for a reason.

3. Tea is soothing.

The British are on to something with the tea and the stiff upper lip. Okay, let’s be honest, I wear my heart on my sleeve and I couldn’t be a stiff upper lip girl if I tried, but there’s something soothing about hot tea, and when you’re soothed, you don’t get quite as worked up about the little things.

4. Tea doesn’t keep you awake late at night.

Earlier in the fall I was on a bit of a Starbucks bender. I’m reformed now, and both my wallet and my body are grateful, and I’m a lot less jittery and sleeping better without the caffeine. I love the herbal teas with no caffeine so I can sip them as late as I like and still get to sleep at a reasonable hour.

5. Tea is ready in a flash.

We parents don’t have a ton of time, and I love that I can make a cup of tea quickly, very quickly. I feel like that buys me a few extra minutes to sit and really enjoy it.

6. It’s easier for me to stay hydrated when I’m drinking tea.

We know that staying hydrated is important and has lots of health benefits, but I confess that I’m not all that great about drinking glass after glass of water during the day. Tea, however? Far more fun to drink. I like mixing up my flavors.

7. Tea warms you up.

It’s finally getting good and cold here in the Midwest, and hot tea does a great job of warming me from the inside out. Sipping hot tea while snuggled up under a warm blanket on my couch? Even better!

This is how you can find me for the premiere of Downton Abbey. (And yes, I’d be happy to stay this way for the rest of the winter.)

8. It’s easy to pick up tea.

You don’t have to make a special trip to get tea, and I’m grateful that I could pick it up on my typical trips out. I grabbed some Bigelow tea on my most recent trip to Walmart, and I love that it’s the aisle with the tea is clearly labeled.

I’d love to hear why you love tea and what your favorite kind is to sip – please let me know in the comments, and know I’ll be raising my fancy cup to you when Downton Abbey premieres!