A good Christmas tea tastes of oranges, cloves and cinnamon, much like mulled wine or gingerbread, but in a mug. It also makes an easy small present. Below we explain what goes into a Christmas tea, which of our festive blends are caffeine-free, and how to brew them well.
What makes a Christmas tea?
Most Christmas teas use the same spices that go into mince pies and mulled wine:
- cinnamon for warmth and natural sweetness
- cloves for that deep festive aroma
- ginger for gentle heat
- orange and lemon peel for brightness
- star anise, cardamom and black pepper for a chai-like edge
The base changes the cup a lot. Some Christmas teas are made with black tea, which gives a stronger, brisker flavour and contains caffeine. Many use rooibos, a South African plant that is naturally caffeine-free and has a mellow, slightly sweet taste that goes well with spice. Others are herbal infusions with no tea leaves at all. For an evening cup that won't keep you awake, choose a rooibos or herbal blend.
Caffeine-free Christmas teas
Yogi Tea Organic Christmas Tea, 17 bags
A rooibos base with cinnamon, liquorice, coriander, honeybush, orange peel, cloves, black pepper, anise, star anise and cardamom. Warm and sweetly spiced, with every ingredient certified organic.
Pukka Organic Winter Warmer, 20 bags
Ginger leads, followed by rooibos, orange peel, star anise, hibiscus and sweet cinnamon, with lemon balm, clove and a little black pepper. The warmth builds as you drink. Caffeine-free, organic and in compostable tea bags.
Hampstead Christmas Tea, 20 bags
Cinnamon, ginger and orange peel with lemongrass, liquorice and cloves. A sweet, spicy infusion with no tea leaves, made with organic ingredients, some from biodynamic farms. Steep for three to five minutes.
Joe's Tea Co. Spiced Chai Rooibos, 15 bags
A chai without the caffeine. Organic rooibos with cinnamon, nutmeg, cloves, ginger, cardamom, mace, black pepper, liquorice, star anise, fennel and orange peel. Try it with a splash of warm oat milk.
Teapigs Pumpkin Spice Chai, 15 bags
Apple, cinnamon, cocoa husk, carob and pumpkin with cardamom, clove, star anise and vanilla. Sweet and gently spiced, rather like pumpkin pie. Brew for three minutes.
Christmas tea with black tea
Steenbergs Organic Christmas Tea, 100g loose leaf
Organic Nilgiri black tea with cinnamon, ginger, clove and cardamom and a little orange and lemon peel. There are no added flavourings, so the flavour comes from the spices and peel themselves. Use a teaspoon per cup and brew for about five minutes, or simmer it with milk and a little sugar for a festive chai. Contains caffeine.
Christmas tea gift sets
English Tea Shop Vintage Christmas Collections, 40 sachets
A limited edition box of 40 individually wrapped organic sachets in five blends: Chai Black Tea; Rooibos, Cocoa & Vanilla; Cocoa, Cinnamon & Ginger; Coffee Cocoa; and Peachy Keen. It mixes caffeinated and caffeine-free teas, so it suits sharing.
English Tea Shop Premium Holiday Collection Red Gift Tin, 72 bags
A red gift tin with 72 individually wrapped bags in nine blends, including Peppermint Candy, Winter Fruit, Red Cherry Chai, Berry Rooibos, Ginger Cranberry and Spicy Pumpkin. A generous present for a tea lover, or plenty to keep guests going over the holidays.
For a different tea every day in December, see the tea advent calendars from Clipper, Yogi Tea, Pukka and English Tea Shop on our Christmas page.
How to brew Christmas tea
- Use freshly boiled water, as spices need heat to release their flavour.
- Spiced and rooibos blends usually taste best after four to five minutes. Check the pack for each blend's recommended time.
- Put a saucer over the cup to keep the tea hot while it steeps.
- Black tea and rooibos chai blends work well with a splash of milk or a plant-based drink.
- For a crowd, brew a few bags in a teapot with a slice of orange and a cinnamon stick as an alcohol-free alternative to mulled wine.
A note on liquorice in tea
Several Christmas teas contain liquorice root for its natural sweetness. Liquorice contains glycyrrhizin, which can raise blood pressure if you have a lot of it regularly. The British Heart Foundation suggests that people with high blood pressure or heart disease avoid or limit liquorice products, including liquorice tea. If that applies to you, check the ingredients and choose a blend without it, such as the Pukka Winter Warmer, Teapigs Pumpkin Spice Chai or Steenbergs Christmas Tea.
Browse all of our festive drinks in the Christmas drinks collection.
Christmas tea questions
Is Christmas tea caffeine-free?
Not always. Rooibos and herbal Christmas teas, such as Yogi Christmas Tea, Pukka Winter Warmer and Hampstead Christmas Tea, are caffeine-free. Blends made with black tea, such as Steenbergs Organic Christmas Tea, contain caffeine.
What spices are in Christmas tea?
Most Christmas teas use cinnamon, cloves, ginger and orange peel. Many also include star anise, cardamom and black pepper.
Can you add milk to Christmas tea?
Black tea and rooibos chai blends go well with milk or a plant-based drink. Fruity and herbal infusions are usually best without.
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