Superbly Steeped | National Hot Tea Month
Cozy up in your favorite chair, breathe in the cool air of the day, and take a sip from some of our favorite teas sourced from all across Chicagoland in honor of National Hot Tea Month. From warm, steamy classics like Earl Grey or Matcha to new leaf inventions like Nepal Sunderpandi Delight from TeaGschwender or Hibiscus Jamaica from The Spice House, we encourage you to find flavors that complement every moment.
Included is a helpful guide to the ideal steeping times for every type of tea. Additionally, we'll walk you through a timeline for incorporating tea into your routine at any time of day, so cozy up and enjoy the perfect cup all month long.
Cafes
Aglaïa Coffee & Tea Co.
925 W. Chicago | River West, Chicago
Pinecone Cottage Tea House
1029 Burlington | Downers Grove
Letty Mae’s Tea Room
2 E Washington | Morris
Adagio Teas
4999 Old Orchard | Skokie
Hugo Tea Space
1816 N Milwaukee | Wicker Park, Chicago
SereniTea Cafe + Boutique
1046 Pleasant | Oak Park
Loose-Leaf Shops
TeaLula
11 S Fairview | Park Ridge
The Coffee & Tea Exchange
3311 N Broadway | Lake View, Chicago
Wonderful Matcha
4 W Burlington | La Grange
TeaGschwendner
1160 N. State | Gold Coast, Chicago
The Spice House
1941 Central | Evanston
Madame Zuzu’s
1876 1st | Highland Park
Tea Time
One of the best part’s about tea is there is literally a type for any and every time of day! Some tea is packed with natural caffeine, while others kinds caffeine-free and crafted to promote a restful night’s sleep. When is the best time for tea?
Early Morning
Start the day off right with a white tea first thing when you wake up. Gentle on the stomach, with a light, aromatic quality, white tea has just the right amount of caffeine to give you a boost without giving you the jitters.
Mid-Morning
Around 10:00 or 11:00, move on to a green tea. This variety of tea helps kick start your metabolism, with it’s light This will help give your metabolism a kick start, with it’s light, smooth, and well-rounded feel.
Lunch
Black tea is a great choice with your midday meal. It’s easy to find if you’re out and about grabbing a bite, and pairs well with food (especially iced). Choose a more or less caffeinated variety depending on your energy levels.
Post-Lunch
The perfect follow-up to a well-balanced lunch is a cup of naturally fermented Pu-erh tea. Known for it’s slimming and medicinal properties, Pu-erh just the tea type to fight off that afternoon-slump.
Evening
Calling it a night? Opt for an herbal tea. There are several types that’ll help promote calm and a restful slumber, like Chamomile, Valerian Root, Lavender, Lemon Balm, and Passionflower.
