Holiday Season is here!

Well Halloween is over, and for most people, that means the end of fall. Realistically, fall will go until December 21^st, but once Remembrance Day is over, and we've paid respect to the veterans who have fought so that we can celebrate however we want, the holiday season officially starts. Decorations go up in stores, people start panicking about what they're going to buy for others, the days get shorter and the nights get colder. For me, nothing says the holiday season more than spicy, belly warming teas and mint.

I learned a very valuable lesson this week: Never assume anything. Bogged down in midterms and papers that are due, I didn't think twice about sampling Lady Baker's Chocolate Mint tea. You may wonder why that would be a problem. The answer is that I am allergic to chocolate. In my mind, and possibly because I brought my chocolate mint plant inside this week, it didn't even occur to me to check the ingredients for real chocolate. On the bright side, I can fully attest to the fact that the natural chocolate flavouring in this tea, is indeed natural. Before I started breaking out in hives, I really did enjoy this tea! It reminds me of my childhood (before I became aware of the fact that I was allergic to chocolate) and I'm actually really sad that it gives me hives. Memories of peppermint patties and dipping candy canes into hot chocolate lingered on my tongue as I was sipping it. This tea is perfect for anyone who craves an adult (and sugar free) treat… and isn't allergic to chocolate.

[caption id="attachment_2654" align="aligncenter" width="682"] Harmony Holiday Spice[/caption]

Harmony Holiday Spice is one of the spiciest teas that I've had in a long time. I love that the spices that stand out most in this are tea cloves and star anise rather than the cinnamon (which is not my favourite spice!), and the little stars that are in it gave it a playful, magical feel.

[caption id="attachment_2655" align="aligncenter" width="528"] Harmony Holiday Spice Tea[/caption]

This is a great tea for someone looking for something a tad bit spicier, but still comforting. I can see myself drinking this tea after indulging a little bit too much at holiday parties and potlucks, as I find star anise and clove both help with digestion. I drank it straight the first time I had it, and topped it with a bit of coconut whipped cream the second time. Although I made it as a tea, I imagine it would make an excellent latte as well. This tea is well balanced, calming, and is guaranteed to make you happy!

These are both teas that I would recommend for the holiday season, either for yourself, or as gifts for others. Another fun idea is to pick up a few bags of tea and use them to make your own advent calendars for friends or family members. There are tons of creative ideas on Pinterest. I am not crafty by ANY stretch of the imaginations, but even I am going to try to make an advent calendar this year. The Dollar Store has coin bags or little circular containers that hold the perfect amount of tea leaves to make one or two good cups of tea. Get a few friends together for a calendar-making party. If each of you buys a few different bags of tea, you can then combine your varieties for a much greater diversity of teas. Don’t forget to brew some tea to enjoy while you're crafting! Sipping a good cup of tea will help get the creative juices flowing! Good luck! If you do create an advent calendar using our teas, please snap a photo and share it with us! We would love to see your creations!