Celebrate National Hot Tea Day with Stash


Today is National Hot Tea Day. And, in fact, January happens to be National Hot Tea Month. If you follow our page, you know that we are tea fans. I'm such a big tea fan that last year I made a new year's resolution to try a new tea each day without duplication. I continued it until the end of the year. A bout of COVID kept me from getting all the way to 365 days of teas. But I did get to 276.

I'm sipping on a cup of Stash's Earl Gray right now and I enjoyed a lot of their teas as I explored last year. I found a few variety packs online that allowed me to sample many flavors and a friend also shipped me some to try.

If you're not familiar with Stash, they have over 250 different varieties from loose leaf to tea bags that can help dip you into relaxation mode when you need it most. The company started in Portland, Oregon and In 2017, Stash Tea became a Certified B Corp, reaffirming their values and commitment to conduct business as a force for good - creating products that are non-GMO Project Verified and compostable. Find out more about their mission and their products at  https://www.stashtea.com

National Hot Tea Month is a great time to create a new tea ritual for yourself. Maybe follow my lead and commit to trying a new variety each day. Or try one of the Stash recipes below. Stash is encouraging tea lovers to take tea selfies to share on social media and use the hashtag #stashtea 

Stash provided some interested tea facts and health benefits that you'll find below along with some new recipes to try as you make your way through National Hot Tea Month.

INTERESTING TEA FACTS:

  • Tea is the second most popular beverage in the world next to water.
  • Tea was discovered by accident nearly 5,000 years ago.
  • The USA is the 3rd largest importer of tea in the world after Russia and Pakistan.
  • Tea contains naturally occurring plant compounds that may be good for your health.
  • Recent studies have associated two compounds in tea, L-theanine, and caffeine, with cognitive health benefits.
    • The amino acid L-theanine, in particular, has been shown to directly affect areas of the brain that control attention & the ability to solve complex problems.
    • Other studies have shown that drinking tea may improve mental clarity, mood, and work performance.

 

Studies Show Health Benefits from Tea: (source Tea Association of the USA)

  • Studies show tea can counteract tiredness and can benefit work performance.
  • Research also suggests drinking tea supports cardiovascular health.
  • A new study found that black tea can reduce blood pressure in hypertensive individuals.
  • Studies suggest tea flavonoids may help increase metabolism.
  • Research has shown daily green tea consumption can reduce the risk of certain types of cancers.
  • Tea is packed with antioxidants that help keep our bodies “young” and protect them from toxins.
  • Tea has less caffeine than coffee. The types that do contain caffeine usually contain about 50% less than coffee.
  • Research shows a correlation between tea and heart health. A recent study says people who drink tea have a 20% less chance of having a stroke or heart attack than those who don’t.
  • Tea is an immune system booster. Studies show that tea helps immune cells reach their targets more quickly.

 

14 Tea-rrific Activities to Celebrate Hot Tea Month: LEARN, PLAY & CREATE

  1. Learn about Tea - Check out Stash’s History of Tea
  2. Learn about the different varieties of Tea with Stash’s Tea 101
  3. Learn How to Steep the Perfect Cup of Tea
  4. Painting with tea
  5. Reading tea leaves
  6. DIY Tea-tasting Flight: mix and match teaology/teaologist: Mix & Match your Stash
  7. High Tea via Zoom - Enjoy a Stash High Tea with Friends via your favorite meeting platform
  8. Show us your Stash - Insta-worthy photos of you and your favorite Stash flavors
  9. Tea Bingo
  10. Stash Scavenger Hunt
  11. Tea Dare Game
  12. Tea based on your Enneagram type
  13. Create some tea-infused 1-minute mug cakes
  14. Create tea-rrific beverages and sweets with Stash’s QuaranTEAn Cocktail recipes and recipes

 


 

STASH Tea’s Tas-Tea Hot Tea Month Recipes:

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Snickerdoodle Mug Cake using Cinnamon Vanilla Tea

Prep time: 2 minutes
Cook time: 1 minute

Yield: One mug cake

Ingredients

Directions

  1. Brew two tea bags in 4 oz hot water for 4 minutes. Then discard tea bags.
  2. Mix together all dry ingredients in a separate 6 oz microwavable mug.
  3. Add 2 tbsp Stash Cinnamon Vanilla herbal tea and oil. Mix thoroughly.
  4. Place mug in microwave and set for 1 minute on high.
  5. Sprinkle cinnamon-sugar mixture on top.
  6. Let cake cool for one minute. Enjoy!

*Make your own self-rising flour:

Combine 1 cup flour, 1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder, and 1/4 teaspoon salt.
Whisk together, mixing well


 

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Cozy Cinnamon Tea Steamer

The coziest drink award goes to this easy-to-make tea steamer. With the spicy-sweet flavors of cinnamon and vanilla, it's chilly weather comfort in a cup.

Ingredients

Directions

Put 2 tea bags of Cinnamon Vanilla or, using an infuser, 2 tablespoons of Sweet Cinnamon loose tea in hot water and steep for 5 minutes.

Add vanilla syrup and stir. Pour in the steamed milk and stir again. Finish with a topping of foam. Sprinkle with ground cinnamon and enjoy!  Makes one 12 oz drink

 


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Chai Spice Truffles

This versatile tea truffle recipe can be made with just about any tea you like. Chai truffles are perfect for entertaining and, makes a rich after-dinner treat.

Ingredients:

Recipes makes about 15 truffles

  • 4 ounce (113 grams) dark chocolate bar
  • 1 tablespoon nonsalted butter
  • 1/4 cup (2 ounce) heavy whipping cream
  • Stash Chai Spice tea bags

Directions:

  1. Chop up the chocolate, place into a heat-proof bowl and set aside. Combine the cream, butter and tea bags in a small saucepan over medium heat. After bringing the mixture to just boiling, take the saucepan off the heat and let it sit for a couple of minutes.
  2. Remove tea bags, then pour the cream over the chocolate and mix together. The chocolate should be completely smooth; if not, heat it up in a microwave for 20 seconds. Cover the bowl and leave it in the refrigerator for several hours, until the chocolate is firm.
  3. Once firm, use a spoon, melon baller or your hands to form the chocolate into small balls. The chocolate will begin to melt upon contact, so make sure you have your coating ready. You can coat the truffles with nuts, shaved chocolate, cocoa powder, sprinkles or anything else that comes to mind. Just roll the truffles in the powder.
  4. Keep the truffles in the refrigerator on parchment paper or a plate until they’re firm, then serve.

 


Spiked London Fog Tea Cocktail – SO MANY VARIATIONS TO SUIT ANY PALATE

Stash was built on challenging convention and vibrantly reinterpreting how people experience tea. If you’re willing to shake things up a bit (literally), try this classic Earl Grey tea latte as a cocktail.

Q: Where did the famous London Fog drink originate?

A: Surprisingly, it is widely believed to have been coined in Vancouver, BC.

  • Manchester Fog: steamed soy milk with a sugar-free vanilla syrup in Earl Grey tea.
  • Seattle Fog: soy misto (½ water, ½ soy, steamed) with 2 pumps of vanilla syrup and one pump of hazelnut syrup, in with double-strength Earl Grey Tea.
  • Oregon Mist: The same as London Fog, but substituting green tea and amaretto for Earl Grey and vanilla. Popularized by the Glenwood restaurants in Eugene, Oregon.
  • Dublin Fog: The same as London Fog, only replace Earl Grey with Irish Breakfast Tea.
  • Maui Fog: The same as London Fog, only substituting coconut for vanilla syrup.
  • Halifax Fog: The same as a London Fog, substituting Nova Scotian maple syrup for vanilla syrup.

Ingredients:

Makes one 8 oz drink

  • 2 tbsp loose leaf Decaf or regular Double Bergamot Earl Grey
  • 3 oz hot water
  • ½ tsp vanilla extract
  • 1 oz vodka
  • 1 oz whipping cream
  • 1.5 oz oat milk
  • 1 tsp stevia
  • 1 egg white
  • ½ cup ice

Directions:
Steep Stash Decaf or regular Double Bergamot Earl Grey loose leaf tea in 1/4 cup near-boiling water for 5 minutes. Remove the tea, add stevia and vanilla, and let the mixture cool for 10 minutes.  In a shaker, combine the vodka, whipping cream, oat milk, egg white and 1/2 cup ice.  Shake vigorously.  Strain ice and pour mixture into a fancy glass. Make sure you get the froth for the top. Happy sipping!


Vegan Double Spice Chai Tea Latte

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Chai tea lattes are one of the most famous tea recipes in the U.S. Opting to make your own instead of buying it at a drive-thru cafe is a great way to satisfy your spice tooth since you can adjust the ingredients until you have a drink that is perfect for you. Not to mention, you can keep some extra change in your pocket. It’s easy to make: simply brew up your Stash Double Spice Chai tea extra strong, add sugar to your preference (we like ours on the sweeter side), add frothed milk, and top with cinnamon. If you want to make this a cuppa that is totally Insta-worthy, we’ve provided exact directions on how to trick out your presentation below.

Ingredients:

  • 2 tea bags Stash Double Spice Chai (or substitute for any of our other chai tea flavors)
  • 2 oz boiling water
  • 1.5 tbsp organic sugar
  • ¼ cup frothed oat milk
  • ½ tsp cinnamon
     

Toppings

  • Honey for rim
  • 40/60 cinnamon and sugar mix

Directions:

First, pour some honey into a small puddle on a small plate. Take the glass you’ll be using and dip the rim of the glass into the honey. Dip the honey rim into your cinnamon and sugar mix and set aside. In a separate glass, place your Stash Double Spice Chai tea bags and add boiling water. Allow to steep for 5 minutes. Remove the tea bags and discard them. Add sugar and stir until it dissolves. Pour tea mixture into your cinnamon and sugar-rimmed glass. Add your frothed oat milk and stir. Top with a sprinkle of cinnamon and take your photo for the ‘gram.

 


DIY Chocolate Peppermint Tea Latte

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If you’re new to the world of the tempting treats that are tea lattes, welcome home. This tea latte in particular is a great option for lower-calorie hot cocoa or even drinking chocolate. In addition, this tea latte gives you an extra kick of energizing caffeine from the oolong tea.

Ingredients:

Yield: 1 8-oz serving

  • 2 Stash Chocolate Mint Oolong tea bags
  • 3 oz boiling water
  • 2 oz chocolate milk - heated
  • 2 oz creamer of choice - heated
     

For topper

  • Whipped topping
  • Crushed peppermint candies
  • Grated chocolate

Directions:

Pour boiling water into a mug with Stash Chocolate Mint Oolong tea bags. Allow to steep for 5 minutes. Remove tea bags and discard. Next, pour in chocolate milk (we used dark chocolate almond milk). Froth your creamer of choice (we used a dairy-free option) and pour on top of the mixture in your mug. Give it a quick stir. The deliciousness is in the details with this recipe, so top it all off with a healthy heap of whipped cream, then sprinkle crushed peppermint candies and grated chocolate on top.


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