Christmas Tea Guide: Festive Blends for the Holiday Season

There's something magical about wrapping your hands around a steaming cup of tea while snow falls outside and holiday lights twinkle. Christmas tea isn't just a beverage—it's a warm hug in a mug, a moment of peace amid the festive bustle.

Whether you're seeking traditional holiday blends, spiced recipes to share with guests, or the perfect tea to pair with Christmas cookies, this guide will help you brew the season's coziest cups.

What Makes a Tea "Christmassy"?

Christmas teas share common flavor profiles that evoke the warmth and nostalgia of the holiday season:

Warming spices: Cinnamon, clove, ginger, nutmeg, and cardamom create that signature holiday warmth. These spices have been associated with winter celebrations for centuries.

Citrus notes: Orange peel, bergamot, and lemon add brightness that balances the heavier spices and cuts through rich holiday foods.

Sweet aromatics: Vanilla, caramel, and almond notes remind us of holiday baking and desserts.

Festive additions: Dried apple, cranberry, rose petals, and even chocolate make appearances in holiday blends.

The 8 Best Teas for Christmas and New Year

1. Classic Christmas Spice Blend

Flavor profile: Warming, aromatic, festively spiced Base: Black tea with cinnamon, clove, orange peel, and ginger

This is the quintessential Christmas tea. The robust black tea base provides caffeine and body, while the spice blend delivers pure holiday nostalgia. Every sip tastes like decorating a Christmas tree.

How to brew:

• Temperature: 200-212°F (93-100°C)
• Steep time: 4-5 minutes
• Enhancement: Add a cinnamon stick and a splash of milk

Perfect for: Christmas morning, afternoon tea with holiday cookies, welcoming guests

2. Chai Tea — The Warming Classic

Flavor profile: Bold, spicy, creamy Base: Black tea with cardamom, cinnamon, ginger, cloves, black pepper

While chai is enjoyed year-round, it shines brightest during the cold holiday season. The blend of warming spices provides natural comfort against winter's chill.

How to brew:

• Temperature: 200-212°F (93-100°C)
• Steep time: 5 minutes (longer for stronger spice)
• Traditional: Simmer with milk for authentic masala chai

Pro tip: Make a big batch of chai concentrate to serve guests quickly. Simmer tea and spices in milk, strain, and refrigerate. Heat individual portions as needed.

3. Mulled Tea (Christmas Tea Punch)

Flavor profile: Wine-like, deeply spiced, aromatic Base: Black tea with mulling spices

This is the tea lover's alternative to mulled wine—all the festive spice without the alcohol. It fills your home with the most incredible holiday aroma.

How to make (serves 8):

1. Brew 8 cups of strong black tea
2. Add 4 cinnamon sticks, 8 whole cloves, 2 star anise
3. Add 1 sliced orange and 1/4 cup honey
4. Simmer on low for 20 minutes
5. Serve warm in mugs with an orange slice

Perfect for: Holiday parties, Christmas Eve gatherings, après-ski warming

4. Gingerbread Tea

Flavor profile: Sweet, spicy, dessert-like Base: Rooibos or black tea with ginger, cinnamon, vanilla, molasses notes

This tea tastes like a gingerbread cookie in liquid form. The naturally sweet rooibos version is caffeine-free and perfect for evening sipping.

How to brew:

• Temperature: 200°F (93°C)
• Steep time: 5-7 minutes (rooibos can't over-steep)
• Enhancement: Add a splash of milk and a tiny drizzle of honey

Best for: After-dinner treat, evening wind-down, kids' holiday parties (rooibos version)

5. Peppermint Tea — Cool Holiday Refreshment

Flavor profile: Cool, refreshing, clean Base: Pure peppermint leaves

Sometimes you need relief from all that holiday richness. Peppermint tea cleanses the palate, aids digestion after big meals, and provides that candy-cane freshness.

How to brew:

• Temperature: 200-212°F (93-100°C)
• Steep time: 5-7 minutes
• Style: Enjoy pure or blend with chocolate tea for "peppermint mocha"

Pro tip: Keep peppermint tea on hand for post-feast recovery. It's the best natural remedy for the "I ate too much at Christmas dinner" feeling.

6. Earl Grey with Orange — Winter Citrus Delight

Flavor profile: Bright, floral, citrusy Base: Black tea with bergamot and orange peel

Earl Grey's bergamot already provides citrus notes, but adding extra orange peel makes it especially festive. This sophisticated blend pairs beautifully with chocolate desserts.

How to brew:

• Temperature: 200-212°F (93-100°C)
• Steep time: 3-4 minutes
• Enhancement: Add a strip of fresh orange peel to your cup

Perfect for: Afternoon tea service, pairing with chocolate Yule log, New Year's brunch

7. Apple Cinnamon Tea

Flavor profile: Fruity, warming, naturally sweet Base: Black or herbal tea with dried apple and cinnamon

This blend captures the essence of holiday baking—apple pie, cider, and spiced cookies all in one cup. The natural sweetness means you rarely need added sugar.

How to brew:

• Temperature: 200°F (93°C)
• Steep time: 5-6 minutes
• Enhancement: Add a thin apple slice to the cup

Best for: Cozy evenings, holiday movie marathons, family gatherings

8. Chocolate Tea — Decadent Holiday Treat

Flavor profile: Rich, indulgent, cocoa-forward Base: Black tea with cocoa nibs, sometimes vanilla

Chocolate tea is pure holiday indulgence without the calories of actual hot chocolate. Look for versions with real cocoa nibs rather than artificial flavoring.

How to brew:

• Temperature: 200-212°F (93-100°C)
• Steep time: 4-5 minutes
• Enhancement: Top with a small marshmallow for hot cocoa vibes

Perfect for: Dessert replacement, Christmas movie nights, New Year's Eve treat

Creating a Christmas Tea Station

Impress your holiday guests with a self-serve tea station:

Essential supplies:

• Electric kettle with temperature settings
• Selection of 4-6 holiday teas
• Small pitchers of milk and cream
• Honey, sugar cubes, and rock sugar
• Cinnamon sticks for stirring
• Orange slices and lemon wedges
• Mini marshmallows for chocolate tea

Display tips:

• Arrange teas in a basket or wooden box
• Print small cards describing each tea
• Use holiday mugs or clear glass cups
• Add greenery and fairy lights for ambiance

Pairing Tea with Holiday Treats

The right tea can elevate your favorite holiday foods:

Holiday Treat	Perfect Tea Pairing
Sugar cookies	Earl Grey with orange
Gingerbread	Chai or gingerbread tea
Chocolate truffles	Peppermint tea
Fruit cake	Christmas spice blend
Yule log	Chocolate tea
Mince pies	Apple cinnamon tea
Candy canes	Plain black tea
Panettone	Vanilla chai

New Year's Tea Traditions

Japanese New Year (Shogatsu)

In Japan, the New Year is celebrated with Genmaicha—green tea with roasted brown rice. The toasted, nutty flavor represents warmth and prosperity for the coming year.

Chinese New Year

Pu-erh tea is traditionally served during Chinese New Year celebrations. Its aged, earthy character symbolizes wisdom and longevity.

Moroccan New Year

Mint tea is central to Moroccan celebrations, poured from high to create a frothy top. The sweetness represents hopes for a sweet new year.

Create Your Own Tradition

Consider starting a New Year's tea tradition:

• Toast at midnight with champagne tea (sparkling grape and tea blend)
• Share a pot of "lucky" tea with gold flakes
• Brew your first cup of the year mindfully, setting intentions

The Perfect Holiday Tea Ritual

Make tea time a holiday highlight with this simple ritual:

1. Choose your moment — After gift opening, before guests arrive, or during a quiet evening

2. Select your tea — Match it to your mood and the occasion

3. Use your best teaware — Bring out the fancy pot, the festive mugs, the beautiful cups

4. Add a treat — A cookie, a chocolate, a piece of cake

5. Create ambiance — Light candles, play soft music, sit near the tree

6. Be present — Put away phones, slow down, savor each sip

These small rituals become the memories that define your holidays.

Brewing Holiday Teas with Steep

When you're hosting guests or juggling holiday preparations, perfect timing matters more than ever.

The Steep app helps you nail every holiday brew:

• Custom timers for your favorite Christmas blends
• Apple Watch support lets you check on your tea while entertaining
• Multiple brew tracking when you're making different teas for different guests
• Live Activities show your steep progress even when the phone is in another room

No more bitter, over-steeped tea at your holiday party. Every cup comes out perfectly, leaving you free to focus on what matters—enjoying the season with people you love.

Making the Season Bright, One Cup at a Time

The holidays can be hectic, overwhelming, even stressful. But those quiet moments with a perfect cup of tea? They're the still point around which all the festivity swirls.

Whether you're sipping gingerbread tea while wrapping gifts, sharing mulled tea with carolers, or toasting the New Year with something special—let tea be part of your holiday magic.

This season, give yourself the gift of perfect brews, cozy moments, and mindful pauses.

From all of us at Steep, we wish you the warmest, coziest holiday season.

Ready to make every holiday cup perfect? Download Steep on the App Store →