Tea and warm drinks are one of the top rewards I use to motivate myself to write. But I love tea in general, consuming 2-3 cups per day — sometimes more when the days gets cold.

Of course, each tea has a different time of day for drinking.

Morning Black Tea

#1 Chai is my go-to morning drink before school. The cinnamon spices are simply hard to beat, especially in the fall when they have that extra homey feel. Turning it into a latte or a dirty Chai with a shot of espresso makes it even better. But I switch it up more than I used to.

#2 Early Grey. The calming lavender flavor is my follow-up favorite. The soothing earthy tones give a wonderfully grounding start to any day, and if it’s good enough for Captain Picard, well…

#3 In a more distant third is Numi’s Emperor’s Puerh, which is my wife’s favorite and a recent contender to the morning routine.

Afternoon Blends

Often when I am home on the weekends, I enjoy a nice warm drink in the afternoon, especially if I am getting some writing done.

#1 Milk Tea. Boba stores are everywhere, but you can get all the supplies to make the drinks at home too. And while they are delicious iced on a hot day, they are just as good hot on a chilly day. I currently prefer a lavender, but there are so many still on my list to try.

#2 Jasmine. I do not drink green teas as much because I stay away from caffeine in the evenings and want something stronger in the mornings. But Jasmine has such a beautiful floral ring to it that I cannot stay away. The brewing requires more precision than my black teas but is totally worth it.

Evening Herbals

#1 Last month, my mother-in-law introduced me to Yogi’s Cinnamon Horchata herbal tea, and I am obsesed.

It became an instant favorite for similar reasons to my love for Chai. This is so calming and sweet that it does not even need cream or sweetener, though a little milk and brown sugar never hurts.

#2 Peppermint has been my evening tea drink of choice since I was a kid. It is calming on the stomach and the senses, and it needs little to no additives to be enjoyed.

#3 Chamomile. Does not matter if it is the sleepy time, the vanilla, honey, lemon, or generic, I will take it all because nothing says goodnight like Chamomile.

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This really does not do justice to the number of teas I enjoy or have overflowing from the tea cabinet, but I wanted to leave room for suggestions. Anyone have something I should add to my list?