Christmas Tea - Loose Leaf Tea

Move over mulled wine: Our Christmas, spiced tea features festive winter spices and a rich, seasonal aroma that will make it feel like Christmas every day. Aromatic and indulgent, our luxurious Christmas loose leaf tea blend is made with exquisite Ceylon black tea. Still, it's the unique mix of carefully selected spices and dried fruits that really bring this festive brew to life.

Packed into every caddy of loose-leaf Christmas Tea Blend is a carefully selected mix of apple chunks, cinnamon stick, orange slices, pink peppercorns, cardamom pods, cloves and coriander, filling the air with the scent of the festive season. Warm amber in colour, it has the flavour of traditional Christmas spices, with hints of vanilla, cream and apple, and an aroma of cinnamon, almond and chocolate.

Invoking thoughts of crackling fires and Christmas cheer, this winter tea is a treat for all the senses. Customers say it's like Christmas in a cup and a festive season favourite.

Underpinning all those flavours are black tea leaves harvested in autumn from the tea gardens of Nuwara Eliya. At 1,868m, these are the highest in Sri Lanka and famed for producing some of the most characterful Ceylon teas. Little wonder our Christmas Tea Blend has previously been a highlight of the Festive Afternoon Tea at prestigious London hotel St Ermin's.

The history of Christmas tea

Tea may not be the first thing that comes to mind when you think of Christmas drinks, but the tradition of mixing and drinking black tea with warming winter ingredients goes back to the 1830s, making this spiced blend one of the most authentic British teas.

Christmas tea dates from the Georgian era, when the British working and middle classes used their festive break to hit the taverns in a big way. Spending their hard-earned wages and staggering about in the streets was frowned upon by the temperance movement, which sought a booze-free solution. Enter the humble cuppa and the festive tea party – usually held close to Christmas and interspersed with religious sermons and admonishments to give up alcohol.

The first mass Christmas tea party was held in Preston in 1834 and attracted a crowd of 1,200. Before long, people were regularly pairing a good old brew with festive flavours like cinnamon, apple, nutmeg and more. The trend caught on across the UK and in the US, where Christmas afternoon teas – complete with sandwiches, finger food and plenty of seasonal treats – became a tradition.

Still popular for their distinctive wintry flavours and heady seasonal aromas, Christmas teas are a delicious and healthful winter treat, whether served black as a vegan tea or with milk. However you enjoy them, these spiced blends are a delicious way to celebrate the festive season.

Alternatives to this Spiced Black Tea

For more spiced, warming infusions, try our Assam Chocolate Spice Chai, or our Chai tea trio: Masala Chai, Karak Chai and Chai of Madagascar.

Unwind on a dark winter evening with our Cinnamon Spiced Chai Candle, part of our tea-scented candles range.

This tea offers an intensely festive spice aroma and deep orange infusion. A fruity, floral cup with vanilla, cream and apple finishing with  a pronounced cinnamon and orange mouthfeel.

Black Tea (47%), Apple Pieces, Cinnamon Pieces, Coriander, Flavouring, Cardamom, Orange Slices, Pink Peppercorns and Cloves.