Is it really that time again? Here at The Kent and Sussex Tea and Coffee Company, we couldn’t be more excited for Christmas as we get to drink our Christmas Loose Tea. It is, as we all know, a time for love, laughter, and festivities, as well as, of course, being a time to treat yourself with all sorts of different, delicious goodies.

Perhaps you have splashed out on fancy chocolates or smelly cheeses; maybe you have even brushed off the dust from that unopened bottle of port sitting in the back of the cupboard.

However, you don’t need to sacrifice your figure to enjoy such luxuries. In fact, with us, you can embrace some truly delectable flavours (and aromas) without putting on all those unwanted Christmas pounds!

No longer will you need to fear the scales on January 1st, nor will you be required to retire your favourite pair of jeans; all you really need to worry about is brewing up!

We are very proud to share a large selection of festive Teas with you to get you into the Christmas spirit. Every one of our Christmas Herbal Teas, Loose Teas and Fruit Tisanes are quality-assured and boast wonderfully unique characteristics.

So, let’s explore together and discover which beverage is suited to your festive needs, and why each one may be the best Christmas present you receive this year.

Pistachio and Marzipan Flavoured Black Tea

Pistachio and Marzipan Flavoured Black Tea

Put that nutcracker down! Pistachio and Marzipan Flavoured Black Tea is an excellent start to the holiday season, without all the mess! Sweet, almost-chocolatey notes perfectly complement intense nutty flavours from the Black Tea leaves. Put simply; it’s Christmas in a cup.

For many, the word ‘flavoured’ means ‘unnatural’, yet with this particular beverage, it is quite the opposite. Pistachio and Marzipan Flavoured Black Tea is as visually appealing as it is tasty.

Pistachio and Marzipan Flavoured Black Tea

Be sure to enjoy this smooth, comforting (and surprisingly beneficial) brew consisting of large marzipan drops and full green pistachios as you watch the snow fall just outside your window. Even if we’re not blessed with a white Christmas, Pistachio and Marzipan Flavoured Black Tea will undoubtedly keep you warm during the coldest nights of winter.

Pistachio and Marzipan Flavoured Black Tea Benefits

Black Tea leaves contain antioxidants called theaflavin and thearubigin, which can combat free radicals in the body. These free radicals are the product of oxidation, and can lead to complications such as heart disease and diabetes. Theaflavin and thearubigin, meanwhile, can slow down the damaging effects of oxidation through their work in neutralising free radicals.

Black Tea can also help in boosting the metabolism, which can, in turn, help you to burn fat quicker and more efficiently (yes, even and perhaps especially at Christmas time!). Further to this, pistachios contain fewer calories, as well as more potassium and vitamin K, than any other nut. This makes Pistachio and Marzipan Flavoured Tea a great choice for improving your weight management capability.

Santa Berry TeaSanta Berry Christmas Teas

This fine-quality Black Tea is mixed with sweet strawberries, raspberries, and tangy cranberries to bring you a seasonal delight! The additions of cardamom seeds also add subtle spicy notes, while toasted almonds offer luxuriously creamy textures.

Such is the fantastic flavour of Santa Berry Tea that it almost feels as if it should be served with a scoop of ice cream and a cup of eggnog. If this is your preference then, by all means, treat yourself, although the dessert-like taste of Santa Berry Tea.

This could also mean you no longer need to gorge yourself on calorie-stuffed Christmas puddings or fatty mince pies! Instead, why not just enjoy this Tea and save the chocolates for another day?

Benefits of Santa Berry Tea

Aside from Black Tea’s weight loss capability, any brew to contain these leaves including, of course, Santa Berry Tea can actually improve dental health. With this in mind, there is perhaps no better time to enjoy any Black Tea than at Christmas time. Don’t let your teeth suffer from excessive seasonal sugar - drink our Santa Berry Tea and watch the nasty plaque disappear.

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This is scientifically proven according to a collaborative study conducted in conjunction with the College of Dentistry at the University of Iowa, USA, and the Institute of Odontology at Göteborg University, Sweden.

Participants in the U.S. division of the study were given Black Tea to rinse their mouth with for 30 seconds, five times, waiting three minutes between each rinse. This concept was used to simulate the effect of sipping the average cup of Tea.

The Swedish division of the study, meanwhile, saw participants rinse their mouth with Black Tea for one minute, ten times a day. Both co-operating studies discovered that the more participants rinsed, the more their plaque and bacteria levels fell.

This is because the Polyphenolic compounds present in Black Tea can kill or suppress cavity-causing bacteria from either growing or producing acid. The Tea also affected the bacterial enzymes and prevented the formation of the sticky-like material that binds plaque to teeth.

Christmas Black Tea

Christmas Black Tea

Prefer to keep things simple? Christmas Black Tea contains traditionally festive ingredients, including almonds, sweet orange, cinnamon, and clove.

Not only does this Tea taste like Christmas, but also smells like it, too. In fact, the aroma of Christmas Black Tea is almost as mesmerising as its flavour. Yet the emphasis is on ‘almost’, as this beverage boasts irresistibly spicy and tangy notes coupled with a bold maltiness from the Black Tea leaves.

Combined, these distinct ingredients are a match made in heaven. It is a choice-blend to be enjoyed after a large, Christmas meal as it can cleanse the palate and even improve digestion!

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With the latter benefit, in particular, Christmas Black Tea, like any other Black Tea, contains tannins that have a significant astringent effect on the intestinal lining. Black Tea also has anti-inflammatory properties which can help reduce symptoms associated with digestive disorders.

Benefits of Christmas Black Tea

If this wasn’t enough, many of the other ingredients that make up this superb Tea also offer black tea benefits, notably cinnamon and clove, which have been used for their medicinal qualities for literally thousands of years!

Today, modern science can support these age-old claims while providing us with an insight into these two fascinating spices and their respective health-promoting properties. Cinnamon’s frequent consumption, for example, is primarily associated with a reduction in blood pressure (perfect for Christmas stress!).

Cloves, on the other hand, contain a wealth of vitamins and minerals (including iron, magnesium, and Vitamin C) which can boost the immune system and keep those horrible wintertime colds at bay!

Fruity Mulled Wine Green Tea

Fruity Mulled Wine Green Tea

It is indeed hard to resist a nice, hot cup of mulled wine during the festive season, especially when the harsh wind is battering against the windows and you are warm and toasty inside.

Yet, for those looking to cut down on their alcohol intake this Christmas, our exceptional Fruity Mulled Wine Green Tea is the answer.

This flavoured Green Tea consists of strong berry and spicy notes combined with delicate, grassy, Green Tea flavours. As the name suggests, Fruity Mulled Wine Green Tea tastes very much like, you guessed it, mulled wine. It doesn’t, however, contain any alcohol.

This essentially means that you are free to indulge without needing to worry about waking up to an unpleasant hangover on boxing day. What more could you possibly want?

Fruity Mulled Wine Green Tea Benefits

Not only can this brew satisfy your taste buds with fruity winter berries and classic Christmas-time spices, but it can likewise offer amazing green tea health benefits. This goes for any Green Tea, flavoured or unflavoured; the only difference being that Fruity Mulled Wine Green Tea tastes more like a devilish treat than a nutritious infusion.

Fruity Mulled Wine Green Tea

This blend, when consumed as part of a healthy and active lifestyle, surpasses the weight loss capabilities of any Black Tea thanks to a particular antioxidant compound called Epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG).

EGCG can, like Black Tea’s theaflavin and thearubigins, combat free radicals in the body. It can also increase the body’s ability to burn calories while helping to use stored fat for energy, instead of having it just sitting on the waist.

Gingerbread Flavoured Green Tea

Gingerbread Flavoured Green Tea

Wouldn’t it be nice if we all had the time to build extravagant gingerbread houses populated by gingerbread men? Alas, with all the other responsibilities of Christmas, this is most unlikely. Instead, brew up a cup of one of our most popular Christmas loose Teas, Gingerbread Flavoured Green Tea.

Blended to perfection, this beautifully decorated beverage brimming with indulgent sweetness will evoke warm, festive, childhood memories while offering mouthwatering tastes of Star Anise, Cardamoms, Cloves, and Cinnamon. Fruity undertones may also be enjoyed followed by a lovely, refreshing aftertaste.

Gingerbread Flavoured Green Tea Benefits

Another good reason to enjoy this flavoured loose leaf green tea over actual gingerbread is the fact that high diets in saturated fats coupled with low physical activity are two of the main contributors to Cardiovascular Disease.

We are not necessarily implying that munching on a single gingerbread man will cause this condition; rather Gingerbread Flavoured Green Tea can actually reduce the risks of atherosclerosis.

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This is according to a recent meta-analysis of 13 Green Tea-related observational studies, which discovered that participants who drank the most Green Tea had a 28% lower risk of developing any coronary artery disease, compared with those who drank the least amount of Green Tea.

In addition to this, studies using experimental animals have also established the preventive effect of Green Tea against atherosclerosis.

Christmas Green Tea

Christmas Green Tea

This unique and colourful blend is a combination of China Sencha Green Tea with an exotic, spicy surprise. Ingredients for this beverage include sugar crystals, pink peppercorns and clove buds.

It is also scented with almond, marzipan, and rum flavouring. Finally, the additions of chocolate chips ensure that Christmas Green Tea cannot be resisted.

Creamy, luxurious, and wholeheartedly flavoursome to the last drop, Christmas Green Tea is an absolute delight to the senses. It brings to light everything that is good about the season, and makes a brilliant brew for relaxing on the sofa while watching the kids open their presents excitedly .

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Meanwhile, Christmas Green Tea is a gift unto itself; it is a gift in the way it treats your taste buds, and more importantly, it is a gift to your health.

Benefits of Christmas Green Tea

Excessive sugar intake during the winter months can potentially contribute to an increased risk of Type II Diabetes. Consuming Christmas Green Tea can actually reduce these risks. To be more specific, Green Tea drinkers have an 18% lower risk of becoming diabetic, according to one meta-analysis of 7 recent scientific studies.

Several studies have indicated that frequent leaf Green Tea consumption can decrease fasting glucose levels and A1C levels, as well as fasting insulin levels. This likewise, and perhaps more importantly - applies to those who already have diabetes.

Christmas can be a difficult time when you live with diabetes and find yourself surrounded by tempting, sugary treats. Christmas Loose Leaf Green Tea can, however, be an excellent alternative to consider.

Nougat Mousse Rooibos Tea

Nougat Mousse Rooibos Tea

All the way from the sizzling Cederberg Region of South Africa, this Herbal Tea proves that you do not need snow to enjoy Christmas. However, while the Rooibos plant itself can withstand heats of well over 30 C, Nougat Mousse Rooibos Tea is also great for “when the weather outside is frightful”.

A scrumptious infusion of creamy roasted nuts, tempting cocoa peel and herbaceous Rooibos leaves, this blend is an interesting twist on a beverage that has been enjoyed for many hundreds of years.

In fact, the earliest known consumption of Rooibos Tea (admittedly, without the Christmassy additions) was among the numerous tribes of the Khoisan people - one of the indigenous populations of the Cederberg Region.

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In the modern age, the global Tea industry has experimented with many different blends using Rooibos leaves. Nougat Mousse Rooibos Tea is one such example - and a very popular one, at that!

Benefits of Nougat Mousse Rooibos Tea

All herbal tisanes that use Rooibos leaves as the main ingredient are among some of the healthiest beverages currently available on the market. While there are many things to be enjoyed at this time of year, a cold is not one of them. Almost every year, without fail, many of us will come down with a hard case of the ‘sniffles’ leading up to the festive season.

However, this can be avoided with Nougat Mousse Rooibos Tea. How, may ask? Many scientific studies have shown that the polyphenols in Rooibos, also known as antioxidants, help strengthen your immune system. Further to this, all Rooibos Tea Benefits have antiviral and antibacterial properties, making it the ideal drink when trying to ward off symptoms of cold and flu.

Rooibos Cinnamon Angel

Rooibos Cinnamon Angel

Not quite a gift from above, but a gift nonetheless, Rooibos Cinnamon Angel is, as the name suggests, truly heavenly when it comes to both flavour and aroma. Infusing traditional Christmassy ingredients such as apple, almonds, cinnamon, and orange blossom pieces with South African Rooibos ensures a wonderful sensation to the palate with every sip.

Bold, rich and flavoursome, this Tea has all the necessary vigour to get you through the Christmas period (almost) stress-free! It can soothe the mind, body, and spirit, so you are more than ready to take on the madness that is the season! One thing is for sure: Rooibos Cinnamon Angel Tea has all the makings of your next holiday tradition, year after year.

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Benefits of Rooibos Cinnamon Angel

Delving into further detail regarding Rooibos Cinnamon Angel’s ability to combat stress, a study conducted by Stellenbosch University, South Africa, found that the aspalathin and nothofagin compounds in Rooibos Tea can help lower the production of cortisol, a stress hormone in the body.

Rooibos also contains minerals such as magnesium and calcium, which can play an important role in having a good night’s sleep. So, if you cannot avoid stress on Christmas Day itself, you can, at least, consider brewing up a cup of Rooibos Cinnamon Angel after all the excitement has passed to help you ‘nod’ off!

Rooibos Gingerbread and Orange Biscuit

Rooibos Gingerbread and Orange Biscuit

While small similarities can be made with this brew and that of Gingerbread Flavoured Green Tea, the unmistakably herbaceous notes of the Rooibos leaves mean that, for the most, Rooibos Gingerbread and Orange Biscuit is very different indeed. With enticing ingredients such as pepper and coriander, it is certainly hard to resist this beverage, even outside of the Christmas period.

This particular herbal tisane has gone on to become one of our bestselling varieties of Rooibos currently available, period. Strong citrusy notes are often the first flavours to hit the palate, followed by delectable tastes of gingerbread soon after. Try Rooibos Gingerbread and Orange Biscuit Tea today; we suspect that Christmas will never be the same without it ever again!

Rooibos Gingerbread and Orange Biscuit

Rooibos Gingerbread and Orange Biscuit Benefits

While it is usually the summer months most famously labelled as the ‘allergy season’, Christmas may come with its own issues for some individuals. Fear not as Rooibos Gingerbread and Orange Biscuit can help. One of the very first publications on the health benefits of Rooibos Tea highlighted its allergy-fighting ability way back in the 1960’s.

Since then, many studies have likewise supported its consumption for this reason. This is owing to two bioflavonoid compounds found in Rooibos Tea, rutin and quercetin, which can relieve itchy eyes and runny noses in allergy sufferers.

An allergic reaction to dust mites in the winter time will often result in these particular symptoms, and so choosing Rooibos Gingerbread and Orange Biscuit to combat them is a great choice.

Rooibos Christmas Tea

Rooibos Christmas Tea

This beverage is another marvellous example of how brewed Rooibos leaves can be complemented by near enough any blend of ingredients. For this particular herbal tisane, we use many Christmassy ingredients such as cinnamon, blackberry leaves, orange blossom pieces, safflower petals, clove buds, cardamom seeds and ginger.

Like any other one of our seasonal brews, Rooibos Christmas Tea is bound to get you into the spirit of things. If you are bored of conventional Christmases, or sick to death of the ‘same-old-same-old’, then consider this Tea an opportunity to break free from normality. Once you have tried Rooibos Christmas Tea, you’ll likely never go back.

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Health Benefits of Rooibos Christmas Tea

Rooibos Christmas Tea is the gift that keeps on giving, especially when it comes to weight loss. That’s right, like Green Tea, Rooibos can boost the metabolism. Flavoured Rooibos Teas are also low in fat (an average of 2 calories per 8-ounce serving), and their weight loss properties further extend to inhibiting fat-storage hormones within the body.

If that wasn’t enough, Rooibos Christmas Tea is entirely caffeine free and naturally sweet, meaning no added sugar is required.

Winter Romance Fruit Tisane

Winter Romance Fruit Tisane

The deep flavours of baked apples, cinnamon, and almonds are a welcome pleasure while sitting around a roaring fire after a cold, brisk walk outside. This warming infusion has a strong romantic character, hence the name.

Perhaps this is because of the deep red colour of the liquor brought out by the addition of hibiscus? Perhaps, instead, this is due to its captivating flavour?

We’ll let you be the judge, as, after all, no two people fall in love in the same way. All we know is that, like the person of your dreams, this fruit tisane is simply irresistible, so Winter Romance Fruit Tisane is a must this festive season.

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Benefits of Winter Romance Fruit Tisane

If taste alone isn’t enough, then Winter Romance Fruit Tisane can certainly offer so much more. The addition of hibiscus, in particular, can potentially lower your blood pressure, albeit less so than a standalone Hibiscus Tea.

Still, the extract of hibiscus found in our Winter Romance Fruit Tisane remains beneficial, providing the avid consumer (that's you) frequently exercises and eats healthily. To find out more information, we recommend reading our Hibiscus Tea Benefits article!

Apple Fig and Cranberry Festive Fruit Tisane

Apple Fig and Cranberry Festive Fruit Tisane

When it comes to the blending of various Christmassy ingredients, you would be hard-pressed to find one more inclusive than our very own Apple Fig and Cranberry Festive Fruit Tisane. This brew is jam-packed with apple, cranberry, date, and fig pieces, as well as almonds, cinnamon, pistachios, and even freeze-dried pumpkin slices!

This is to name but a few, with many more waiting to be discovered when you choose this beverage. Apple Fig and Cranberry Festive Fruit Tisane is arguably as flavoursome as they can get - so much so that you may wish to carry on enjoying it well into the new year.

Apple Fig and Cranberry Festive Fruit Tisane

Apple Fig and Cranberry Festive Fruit Tisane Benefits

One of the most dominant ingredients in this beverage is cranberry; known for its tasty tartness, as well as its incredible health benefits. Cranberries can play a vital role in preventing Urinary Tract Infections (UTIs).

This is because of brilliant little antioxidants called proanthocyanidins (PACs), which can stop certain bacteria from adhering to the urinary tract walls. Essentially, cranberries can keep UTIs at bay, although The Kent and Sussex Tea and Coffee Company recommend additional measures alongside our Fruit Tea when treating this condition.

Fruit Angel Tisane

Fruit Angel Tisane

Our Fruit Angel Tisane boasts a vibrant liquor and a combination of perfectly-matched fruits, spices and natural flavourings, including cinnamon, marzipan, and orange. If you are looking to fight those pesky Christmas cravings, but still need a little something for the sweet tooth, rest assured that your search is thankfully over.

Fruit Angel Tisane provides indulgence without the guilt that inevitably follows soon after! Who said you couldn’t enjoy Christmas while also maintaining your waist?

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Benefits of Drinking Fruit Angel Tisane

Quite simply, Fruit Angel Tisane is a healthy alternative to sugary drinks and sweets, especially during Christmas, a time when almost everything around the house is probably bad for you!

Of course, there is no real harm in enjoying colas and confectionary items in moderation, but when it is time to cut down, choose Fruit Angel Tisane and miss out on the unpleasant sugar crash! Frequently, Fruit Teas will also contain vitamins and minerals - components that will rarely exist in your favourite fizzy drink or your choice chocolate bar.

Mulled Wine Fruit Tisane

Mulled Wine Fruit Tisane

If you liked our Fruity Mulled Wine Green Tea, you are going to LOVE this brew! Mulled Wine Fruit Tisane gives one that taste and aroma of a dense, spicy, winter infusion.

Lovely hints of cinnamon, almonds, and cloves can be embraced with every sip, leaving a warming, refreshing aftertaste that lingers on the palate long after you have drained your cup. You don’t need alcohol to have a good time - just our Mulled Wine Fruit Tisane!

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Benefits of Mulled Wine Fruit Tisane

Do you seem to get sick every time you drink alcohol? No, we are not referring to that kind of sickness - hangovers don’t count here - rather you may find yourself experiencing symptoms associated with food allergies. This could be because you are sulfite-sensitive.

Sulphites are naturally occurring compounds found in wine and beer, and they can help inhibit the growth of harmful bacteria. However, for some, sulfites can trigger asthma attacks and other similar conditions. Mulled Wine Fruit Tisane, meanwhile, does not contain these components, despite tasting just as good!

Christmas Tea Tisane

Christmas Tea Tisane

Finally, we have our Christmas Tea Tisane, a beverage that offers a slightly more exotic approach to Christmas, both in flavour and aroma. Like many of our other Fruit Teas, this brew has ingredients such as Hibiscus, Apple pieces and Clove oil. It also contains orange peel and rosehip shells.

Christmas Tea Tisane is for the adventurous, for the ones who want to start their Christmas off with a bang. Perfect for parties and family gatherings, brewing up a pot of this fruity infusion will keep the festivities going well into the night. If, like many, you don’t want the season of giving to end, keep its spirit alive with our very own Christmas Tea Tisane.

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Health Benefits of Christmas Tea Tisane

Saving the best benefit till last, Christmas Tea Tisane, as well as every other Christmas Loose Tea available from us, brings happiness. In this turbulent world of uncertainty, is there really a better time of the year than Christmas to enjoy the company of loved ones while sipping your favourite brew?

Christmas Tea Tisane is a beautiful cup that embodies this delightful season. This nourishes caffeine free tea your entire being, and reminds you that the greatest pleasures in life come from togetherness.

"Not Just for Christmas"

When everyone has opened their presents, and the wrapping paper put away. When the tree has come down, and the decorations have been wedged into the attic once more, many will wish that Christmas wasn’t over so quickly. You will be pleased to know, in that case, that here at The Kent and Sussex Tea and Coffee Company, we believe that many of these Christmas Teas are not just for Christmas, but are actually for any time in the year.

Even in the scorching heat of summer, when Christmas seems like a distant memory, many of our above selections can, in fact, be made into Iced Teas and enjoyed in a lawn chair while ‘getting your tan on’. No matter the season or the time of year, we believe our Christmas Teas are absolutely divine.

So, the choice is now yours, and whichever brew you decide upon, we would like to wish you a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!

Author: Richard Smith

Partner at The Kent and Sussex Tea and Coffee Company

Richard Smith is a Tea expert, entrepreneur, and owner of The Kent and Sussex Tea and Coffee Company. Part of a family of renowned Tea planters dating back four generations, he was born in Calcutta (Kolkata), India, where he spent his childhood between Tea Estates in Assam and Darjeeling.

In the late 1970s, having accumulated years of knowledge in the industry, Mr Smith and his mother, Janet Smith, moved to Kent, South East England, to establish a Tea business in the village of Pluckley. Their early days of packing Tea Bags by hand from chests of 10,000 prompted the creation of the company’s flagship infusion known as Pluckley Tea. It remains our most popular product today.

Mr Smith, who studied economics at London Polytechnic, has since specialised in over 1,000 types of Loose Leaf Tea - in addition to around 70 varieties of Roast Coffee - from around the world. These are now available at The Kent and Sussex Tea and Coffee Company, where everything is still packed by hand and fresh to order, not only to honour tradition but to ensure the utmost quality and consistency.

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