There is absolutely nothing wrong with a beautifully brewed cup of tea all by itself.

But sometimes… you want to level it up.

One of our favorite things about loose-leaf tea is how versatile it can be. Fresh fruit, herbs, sparkling water, a splash of milk, a little honey even the type of sweetener you choose can completely change the experience of a tea you already love.

Think of your brewed tea as your starting point.

Once you understand its flavor profile, you can play with ingredients that complement it rather than cover it up.

Here are some of our favorite ways to Sip • Pause • Reset… with a little extra something.

Add Fresh Fruit

Fresh fruit is probably one of the easiest ways to make an ordinary glass of iced tea feel like something you ordered at a café.

Try adding sliced strawberries, blueberries, raspberries, peaches, oranges, lemons, limes, or even frozen berries in place of ice cubes.

As the fruit sits in the tea, the flavors slowly mingle.

Try it with Cellular Bloom

Our Cellular Bloom – Hibiscus Berry already has beautiful notes of blueberry, currant and tropical fruit, so this blend practically begs for fresh berries.

Try it iced with:

Blueberries + raspberries + orange slices

Or add frozen blueberries directly to your glass instead of ice.

For a tropical version, add fresh mango and a squeeze of lime.

Level-Up Idea: Brew Cellular Bloom a little stronger than usual, pour it over ice and fresh berries, then top with sparkling water for a gorgeous caffeine-free tea spritzer.

Make Skin Harmony a Peachy Tea Refresher

Skin Harmony – Peach Paradise combines black tea with peach, cranberry, orange and delicate floral notes.

Fresh peaches are an obvious match but don't stop there.

Try:

Fresh peach + strawberry

Peach + orange

Raspberry + lemon

For something especially refreshing, brew it strong, chill it and serve over ice with sliced peaches and a splash of sparkling water.

Because Skin Harmony has a black tea base, it also pairs beautifully with a little sweetness.

Which brings us to…

Try Rock Sugar With Black Tea

If you've never sweetened tea with rock sugar, give it a try.

Rock sugar crystals—or those beautiful rock candy sugar sticks are a fun way to sweeten hot tea. Stir the stick directly into your cup and let as much or as little dissolve as you'd like.

We especially like rock sugar with our black teas because a little sweetness can soften their natural astringency while allowing the character of the tea to remain front and center.

Try it with:

Morning Reserve – English Breakfast

Bright Balance – Earl Grey

Skin Harmony – Peach Paradise

Sweet Escape – Mango Treat

And yes, using a rock sugar stick somehow makes drinking tea feel just a little more special.

We're okay with that.

Yes, Put Cucumber in Your Tea

Cucumber isn't just for spa water.

Its crisp, clean flavor can be fantastic with teas that have mint, citrus, floral or vegetal notes.

Our favorite place to start?

Gut Harmony – Moroccan Mint

Brew Gut Harmony and allow it to chill completely.

Pour over ice and add:

Fresh cucumber ribbons + lime + mint leaves

The combination of spearmint, peppermint and green tea with fresh cucumber is incredibly refreshing.

Want to take it another step?

Top it with plain sparkling water.

Now you've turned your iced mint tea into a tea spritzer.

Moroccan Mint Tea Spritzer

Fill a glass about ⅔ full with chilled Gut Harmony.

Add ice.

Top with sparkling water.

Finish with cucumber, lime and a fresh sprig of mint.

Simple. Crisp. Refreshing.

Give Earl Grey a Citrus Upgrade

Bergamot already gives Bright Balance – Earl Grey its signature citrus aroma, which means fresh citrus is a natural companion.

Try:

Orange slice + rock sugar

Lemon peel + honey

Fresh orange + sparkling water

For iced Earl Grey, add orange wheels and a few blueberries for a beautiful glass that looks every bit as good as it tastes.

Tea Tip: Start with just a little citrus. You want to highlight the bergamot not overpower it.

Turn Sweet Escape Into a Tropical Treat

Our Sweet Escape – Mango Treat starts with black tea, mango flavor and calendula petals.

So let's lean into the tropical side.

Try it iced with:

Fresh mango + lime

Pineapple + mango

Strawberry + mango

Or brew it strong and pour it over crushed ice with a splash of sparkling water.

Want something creamy?

Try chilled Sweet Escape with a small splash of coconut milk for a completely different take on the blend.

Keep Jasmine Simple

Some teas don't need much.

Jasmine Harmony is one of them.

Its green tea and jasmine blossoms create delicate floral, vegetal and naturally sweet notes, so heavy flavors can easily overwhelm it.

Instead, think subtle.

Try:

Cucumber ribbons

Fresh mint

A thin slice of lemon

A touch of honey

Or serve Jasmine Harmony chilled with cucumber and mint for an elegant afternoon iced tea.

Sometimes leveling up your tea actually means knowing when to leave it alone.

Turn Morning Reserve Into a Tea Latte

Our Morning Reserve – English Breakfast has the body to stand up beautifully to milk.

Brew it slightly stronger than usual, then add warm frothed milk and your preferred sweetener.

For a cozy version, try:

Morning Reserve + milk + honey + cinnamon

Or keep it traditional with milk and rock sugar.

Want an iced version?

Make a stronger brew, chill it, pour it over ice and add your favorite milk.

You have an easy homemade iced tea latte without the coffee-shop line.

Don't Forget Neurobalance

Neurobalance – Hōjicha Powder gives you an entirely different playground.

Its roasted green tea flavor has notes reminiscent of toasted cereal with subtle sweetness and umami.

Whisk it traditionally with water or turn it into a latte.

Try:

Hōjicha + oat milk + honey

Hōjicha + vanilla + milk

Iced Hōjicha + maple syrup + oat milk

You can even blend Hōjicha powder into smoothies or use it in baking.

Tea doesn't always have to come in a teacup.

Build Your Own Tea Bar

Here's a fun idea for your next brunch, book club, girls' night or family gathering:

Create a DIY Tea Bar.

Brew two or three teas and set out bowls of additions so everyone can create their own combination.

Fresh berries • Lemon • Lime • Orange • Peach • Cucumber • Fresh mint • Honey • Rock sugar sticks • Sparkling water • Milk or oat milk

You might discover a combination you never would have thought to try.

And that's half the fun.

One Tea. So Many Possibilities.

Tea doesn't have to be complicated, and it certainly doesn't have to be boring.

Drink it hot.

Pour it over ice.

Add fresh berries.

Drop in cucumber.

Garnish it with citrus.

Sweeten your black tea with a rock sugar stick.

Top your mint tea with sparkling water.

Make a latte.

Make a spritzer.

Or simply steep it and enjoy it exactly as it is.

There really isn't one "right" way to enjoy tea.

There is your way.

So experiment. Play with flavor. Find the combinations you love.

And whatever ends up in your cup…

SIP • PAUSE • RESET.

— Eleni's Herbal Tea Co.