Travel season is upon us and if you are anything like me, you want to take your love of tea with you everywhere you go. Some teas are better suited for this than others. I tend to prefer fun, lighter options that don’t require a full gongfu setup.
Butiki Teas is well known for creatively flavored teas and Cantaloupe & Cream is one of their most popular. What says summer more than sweet, juicy melons? The white tea base means that you’ll be able to get a flavorful brew even if the highway rest stop gives you water that isn’t quite boiling.
Butiki Teas Cantaloupe & Cream
Aiya’s Matcha to Go Stick-Packs are a great way to get your green tea fix, no strainer needed! Just empty the single-serve packet into a bottle of water and shake until blended. There’s no sweetener added so it is a healthy energy boost for those long road trips.
Need to make iced tea for a picnic? Art of Tea has you covered with their 2 Quart Collection. All you have to do is place the sachet in a pitcher of water for 8 to 10 hours. I’ll often steep it overnight so it will be ready in the morning. Summer Peach is one of my favorites but there are 11 other flavors available.
Fiji from SerendipiTea is a Chinese green tea with the tropical flavors of pineapple and papaya. It is equally delicious when served hot or iced which is versatile when traveling. Be mindful of your steep time, going over the recommended 3 minutes could cause bitterness.
I love a good iced Darjeeling but they can be a bit pricy for that purpose. Harney & Son’s Temi Sikkim is my go-to economical alternative. It is grown in a region just north of Darjeeling so the taste is similar. Sweet notes of honey mean that you can skip the sugar.
Japanese green teas are very refreshing, even on the hottest days. Tealet’s Sencha of the Wind is soft and sweet with just a hint of umami. If you’re feeling adventurous, give ice brewing a try. In Japan this method is called kooridashi.
