Do all of your friends love tea besides you? Do they sit around waxing lyrical about its simple joys and benefits, and laugh at you for not being able to stomach it? Tea is not everybody’s cup of tea. Your tastebuds are your tastebuds and you can’t change that. But there are a wide variety of teas in the world, and one of them statistically should meet your hot beverage criteria.
Some of the great teas for people who don’t like teas are usually herbally infused options such as peppermint, passionfruit and peach blossom tea but there are some true teas, like Oolong, that also cut the mustard.
Here are ten for your viewing pleasure!
Peppermint Tea
Refreshing in both taste and smell, this menthol-flavoured tea rewards the drinker with minty, spicy and even slightly sweet tones. Peppermint tea is a favourite among many tea lovers as it can be consumed hot or cold.
Peppermint tea has been known to also relieve headaches, aid a stomach ache and clear up blocked sinuses. You can complement it by adding honey, brown sugar or berries!
Ginger Tea
Ginger tea is a herbal infusion made from ginger root, unlike traditional leaf tea. It’s therefore very easy and accessible to make for the average tea lover. Simply slice fresh ginger into a cup and add boiling water. Though a straightforward process and appearance, ginger tea is full of antioxidants and boasts anti-inflammatory properties.
If the ginger alone isn’t working out for you, you can add honey and lemon. Ginger and lemon is one of life’s best combinations and also helps you fend off common colds and the flu.
Hibiscus Tea
A popular herbal tea made as an infusion from the magenta-coloured calyces of the roselle hibiscus plant, hibiscus tea is actually the national drink of Senegal and is hugely common in Mexico. These calyces, when infused, give off a sharp taste with hints of cranberry.
Like all good teas, hibiscus is chock full of antioxidants and is said to lower blood pressure and fat levels, possibly even promoting weight loss. Don’t solely rely on this to shed weight, however…
Matcha green tea
Matcha tea is made by finely grinding specially grown green tea leaves that are shaded from the sun for three weeks prior to harvesting to promote chlorophyll production. The difference from normal green tea is that with matcha you drink the leaves rather than removing them from the water.
Matcha tea is a complex flavor experience. While slightly bitter to taste, the aftertaste is conversely sweet. It also contains caffeine but won’t leave you irritable and jumpy like a strong coffee would. If you find regular tea a bit too weak or boring, matcha could be the choice for you.
Peach Blossom Tea
Peach blossom tea, or peach flower tea, is known in its native Korea as dohwa-cha. The process of creating a cup of this lovely brew is simple: just infuse some hot water with dried peach blossoms. Peach flowers are harvested during the spring usually and stored in paper bags.
Because Peach blossom tea contains no leaves, it has a sweet and fruity taste, making it perfect for those looking for a smoother alternative to the likes of black tea. Peach blossom tea is a perfect choice for a summer afternoon beverage. It’s also been reported to ease constipation.
Oolong tea
Oolong tea is a traditional tea made from the leaves of the Camellia Sinensis plant, but without too much of the usual bitterness. It’s therefore a strong contender to those who are looking to find a tea they actually enjoy the taste of.
When teas are oxidised, they release tannins, which are responsible for making your mouth dry when you drink tea. Oolong tea leaves are only partially oxidised, creating a more subtle flavour. To prepare Oolong tea, steep one or two teaspoons in boiling water for three to five minutes.
Mango and passionfruit tea
Mango and passionfruit is another juicy infusion that isn’t made with any leaves from the Camellia sinensis plant and therefore perfect for those who aren’t so big on traditional teas.
Another perfect brew for summer days, this herbal tea is infused with rosehip, orange peel, and safflower, alongside mango and passionfruit.
Roobios tea
A herbal infusion rather than a ‘true tea’, rooibos is prepared with leaves from the Aspalathus linearis plant. Like Oolong, rooibos has a much lower tannin level, so you don’t have to worry about any of the dry mouth or nausea associated with tannins.
Pronounced roy-boss, rooibos tea hails from the Western Cape region of South Africa but has made its mark across the world in the last few years thanks to its naturally sweet taste and lack of caffeine.
Chai tea
Chai tea, or masala chai, is a brew from India made by boiling black tea in milk and water with a funky mix of aromatic herbs and spices. This funky mix is made up of ginger, green cardamoms and star anise, fennel, nutmeg, vanilla, or honey.
Including ginger and cinnamon, in particular, can have a calming effect on the digestive system, making chai a huge success for those who are left nauseated by traditional teas.
Darjeeling tea
Referred to as the “champagne of teas”, Darjeeling can only be grown and produced in the Darjeeling district, a sacred tea Mecca in West Bengal, India. It remains one of the most famous, if not the most famous, tea in the world and despite its popularity, it’s still a good shout for anyone who wants a less bitter form of black tea.
Darjeeling varies on how it is brewed, but generally you’ll get a citrus fruit and flower-flavored cup of tea with a golden or bronze color.