When it's cold outside, there's nothing like curling up with a hot cup of tea. Tea is one of the most soothing ways to end the day, steaming goodness flavored with everything from classic green and black tea, to teas infused with cinnamon and chamomile to raspberry zinger. Only a cup of hot tea spiked with a little something extra beats it.

The classic Hot Toddy recipe is the simplest way to incorporate alcohol into your favorite tea in a tasteful manner. Pour your preferred spirit—rum, gin, whiskey, or vodka—into a mug with a touch of honey and a spritz of lemon, then top with tea instead of hot water. Mix your concoction over ice to keep the tea-tails flowing when the cool nights turn balmy.

3 Fantastic Tea and Alcohol Pairings

Black Tea + Rum

Black tea, whether classic English breakfast tea or orange pekoe, is the ideal accompaniment to rum. Cocktails like the Fish House Punch (a full bottle of dark rum with just as much black tea, as well as some Cognac and peach brandy) and Planter's Punch (a simple mix of black tea and dark rum).

Whiskey + Green Tea

We are aware that boozing green tea negates many of its alleged health benefits, but the flavor is worth it. Gillian Tyrnauaer, bar manager at Ramen Gaijin in Sebastopol, California, and mixologist Scott Beattie infuse green tea directly into Japanese whisky for a unique take on the Whisky Highball. The tea imparts a savory, grassy flavor to the whisky, making it ideal for pairing with food or sipping solo.

Chamomile Tea mixed with Gin or Vodka

When it comes to floral flavors, birds of a feather flock together. Chamomile, a lovely and calming tea, derives its allure from its herbaceousness and florality, just like gin, making the two the ideal boozy business partners. Try infusing chamomile directly into gin; from there, you can use it in almost any gin cocktail recipe, such as a Tom Collins, or even a gin-take on an Old Fashioned. 

5 REASONS TO USE TEA INSTEAD OF ALCOHOL

Even in large quantities, tea has no effect on our health. According to studies, in order for tea to have a negative impact on our health, it would have to be consumed in extremely large quantities. One or two healthy gong fu sessions per day will only benefit us. Tea is also an excellent anti-anxiety and antidepressant alternative to alcohol.

It does, but not in the way that alcohol does. Getting tea drunk has many of the same effects as getting drunk on alcohol but without all of the negative side effects.

You may feel happy, uplifted, creative, energetic, and rational after drinking tea. You will not experience loss of control, cloudiness/fog, headache, stomachache, or irrationality.

Whether you're drinking at home or out. When we compare it to going to a bar, one alcoholic beverage is already more expensive than tea. While good quality loose leaf tea is expensive, it can be refilled with hot water 10 times or more. Going to a tea bar instead of a bar will result in a 1-2 hour gong fu session for a fraction of the price. A great way to spend mindful time with friends!

Tea has been cultivated by monks and drunk throughout the day to aid in meditation since the beginning of tea history. The balanced caffeine content of tea is ideal for keeping the mind mildly awake, sharp, and alert without giving our bodies the jittery feeling that coffee does.

Many people do, in fact, drink socially. They enjoy having a drink with friends or new acquaintances. However, the truth is that tea is consumed by more people than alcohol. Tea is a drink that everyone can relate to.

Final Words

If you prefer a milder tea flavor, white and green tea blends are ideal, whereas black teas, such as English breakfast, have a stronger flavor. Don't be afraid to experiment with different ingredients in your drink, such as fresh and dried fruit, spices, mixers, and cream.

For hundreds of years, alcoholic hot tea drinks have been a part of tea culture. If you've never tried this type of drink before, now is the time to give it a shot. Just be careful not to drink them too hot.