Enjoyment

6 Fiery Teas For The Fifth of November

Crisp autumn nights call for warmth and comfort and little can better provide them than an autumn bonfire. Behold our bonfire blend: Honeybush hazelnut and cocoa nibs relax and ground you, while a spice blend of aniseed, cinnamon, clove, and orange peel offer cozy comfort and zest. Apples and rose hips add soft sweetness while a touch of Lapsang Souchong black tea and red peppercorn offer hints of smoke and the flickering spark of heat. A perfect cup for fireside enjoyment or downtime dreaming.
Crisp autumn nights call for warmth and comfort and little can better provide them than an autumn bonfire. Behold our bonfire blend: Honeybush hazelnut and cocoa nibs relax and ground you, while a spice blend of aniseed, cinnamon, clove, and orange peel offer cozy comfort and zest. Apples and rose hips add soft sweetness while a touch of Lapsang Souchong black tea and red peppercorn offer hints of smoke and the flickering spark of heat. A perfect cup for fireside enjoyment or downtime dreaming.

Ah! It feels like just yesterday I was typing up some May the Fourth goodies for you to enjoy on Teamuse. And even more yesterday-er, celebrating July the Fourth with single origin selections to commemorate American Independence Day.

But now the air is chilly and autumnal, and some fireworks wouldn’t be amiss. Luckily, there's another holiday that can provide us with those flames!

Guy Fawkes Night, or Bonfire Night is celebrated on November the Fifth in the United Kingdom in honor of a failed attempt to literally set Parliament on fire. Today, its legacy continues in the acclaimed movie V for Vendetta, based on graphic novel by Alan Moore, whose brand of philosophical anarchy is also responsible for the pop culture staples of Watchmen and Batman’s The Killing Joke.

But before it was comic-ified, the perpetuation of Guy Fawkes Night was via— yup, a nursery rhyme. There are a few variations floating around, but the most famous lines— the ones found in V for Vendetta— are as follows:

Remember, remember, the 5th of November,

Gunpowder, treason and plot.

I see no reason

Why gunpowder treason

Should ever be forgot.

So now that we’re all fired up for the 5th— who’s ready for some hot, spicy November teas?

1. Bonfire (and Gunpowder)

Now, the first that come to mind are, of course, Bonfire and Gunpowder. If you haven’t tried either of these, PLEASE do. Gunpowder is one of the most traditional mainstay green teas to have your arsenal— I didn’t even intend that pun, it just came out by itself! — and Bonfire is so unique to Adagio’s herbal lineup that you honestly can’t keep a winter teatime cabinet without it.

But what about the other teas that don’t have the Guy Fawkes poem right in their names?

The… secret smolders?

2. Blood Orange

I never get tired of recommending this feisty, fiery citrus blend because it does so well at bringing together all the best parts of a sour fruit tea. The super-tart hibiscus really brings out the sharper flavors in the orange peels and rosehips— which can be packed with vitamin C, for the steadily-colder weather. Personally, I love to steep this one for hours as a thick concentrate— adding four to six teaspoons per eight to ten ounces of water, or a 4 : 1 ratio if you’re using one of the handy Airtight Adagio Iced Tea Pitchers for storage! — and sip it throughout the week over ice or added to a glass of water for extra hydration. (Talk to me about the skin-drying fall weather. Yikes!)

3. Double Ginger

Between this one and its zest cousin above, I’d say your immune system should feel pretty safe and cozy when flu season starts. (If yours hasn’t started already.) This blend punches you in the most delicious way with powerful, peppery hits from the actual peppercorn inclusion, rounding itself out and mellowing as it steeps into the sugary-sweet nature of well-heated ginger root at the end of the cup. If you use the Keep Warm function on the VelociTEA Kettle, this tea will keep warming you from the tips of your fingers to the ends of your toenails, well into December.

4. Jump Start

I’m sure you’ve heard that ever-famous classic by Van Halen, Jump. Listen to it again, and now picture that level of feeling and energy— but in a drink. That’s Jump Start for you. It delivers a wonderful trampoline sensation into your day, or as a comfortable pick-me-up in the afternoon. This is definitely one where I’d recommend adding an accent sweetener like Chocolate Honey to really bring out the cinnamon and mate flavors— and a little goes a long way, making it a safe and healthy indulgence.

5. Raja Oolong Chai

Who could make a list about spice-fire teas without putting a chai on there? This one incorporates the fabulous citrus elements we’ve seen earlier in this list, and I love how it tastes almost like you added lemon or orange slices to the cup without having to make an extra trip to the fridge. If you want more of the sweetness, just add a touch of Rock Sugar and you’re good to blast off through the rest of your day on this rocketship of a tea blend.

6. Rooibos Cinnamon Apple

This one rounds out the list on a soft, cuddly note— because after a night of Guy Fawkes partying, I think anyone would just want to curl up and have a cup of something warm before taking a well-earned rest. What I love about this one is that its cinnamon flavor isn’t too overpowering, so that it’s easy to add something like Cinnamon Honey without worrying that it will totally mask the natural flavors of the tea itself.

What’s your favorite fall tea to make merry with? Let me know in the comments!