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Pairing Tea with Cozy British Shows
There’s something undeniably charming about pairing a hot cup of tea with a good British television show. When you see the characters on screen enjoying a cuppa, it’s hard to resist savoring one of your own. I love the cozy ambiance, slower pacing, and endearing characters that are staples of British shows. Holding a warm mug in your hands and feeling the heat radiate through your body while inhaling the delicious aroma of tea definitely enhances the overall viewing experience.
I have a few beloved British shows that I enjoy revisiting, always with a freshly brewed cup of tea at the ready. Recently, after devouring the latest season of The Great British Bake Off followed by a cozy binge of Downton Abbey, I decided that certain teas in my collection complement these series perfectly. Now every time I hear the opening theme, I find myself craving the corresponding tea! I realized there are a few other special shows that evoke an association with a tea. I thought it would be fun to share my pairings. Now, if you feel like enjoying the cozy combo of tea and British TV, you have some inspiration!
The Great British Bake Off (2010- )
Also known as The Great British Baking Show, this is the coziest competition series with charming music, quaint countryside, and delicious baking. When I watch the intro and I see that final raspberry placed on the delicious chocolate cake, I love to have a fresh cup of tea in hand to enjoy with the episode. (Especially when the contestants and judges enjoy their own cups of tea throughout!)
Pairs well with: The Tea House Private Reserve
The Tea House Private Reserve by The Tea House on Los Rios is a black tea blend of Ceylon tea, vanilla, and grenadine. The aroma is scrumptious, and smelling this tea makes me immediately crave warm scones with jam. I remember watching the GGBS opening and seeing the freshly baked scones with strawberries and cream, made me think this tea would be lovely to drink with that show! (And now I always enjoy the two together) This tea is full-bodied and I think the the notes of vanilla and grenadine are enhanced with a small splash of milk. For me it is an ideal “tea-time” tea.
Why I watch it…
Contestants sipping tea, judges sipping tea, hosts sipping tea—what more could you ask for? The Great British Bake Off is my ultimate feel-good show. With its uplifting music, the cozy visuals of the English countryside (rainy day episodes are the best), and the iconic baking tent, it’s a warm escape. The contestants seem genuine and have such lovely personalities. The judges, though tough at times, are always kind and encouraging. And the biggest drama for this reality TV show? Someone dropping their cake or, heaven forbid, a soggy bottom! The opening montage always leaves me craving a cup of tea. When a new series starts, I eagerly anticipate a new episode each week, and when it’s time, I grab my cup of tea, snuggle up, and settle in for a delightful, cozy hour of television.
Downton Abbey (2010-2015)
This show has one of my favorite television series title sequences. The first notes of the piano of the opening theme immediately release cozy endorphins and I am transported to an era where tea time is steeped in tradition. The soft lighting, the sound of tea being poured, and the sweeping shots of the estate all create a warm, cozy environment that feels perfect for sipping tea.
Pairs well with: Earl Grey Creme Tea
An organic black tea from Art of Tea that is a must for Earl Grey lovers. Balanced well with bergamot and French vanilla for a creamy, rich, and robust flavor. I love a good Earl Grey with uplifting citrus notes in the aroma. This tea feels refined and decadent, perfect for an elegant sipping experience to pair with Downton Abbey. Immerse yourself in a leisurely viewing experience that has you savoring the cinematography and character drama along with your cup of tea.
Why I watch it…
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Best Cozy Classic Movies to Enjoy With Tea in Winter
Winter has finally arrived, bringing with it cozy nights wrapped in fuzzy blankets and snuggly sweaters. Cue the classic movies and hot tea! There’s nothing I enjoy more than holding a steaming cup of tea, feeling the warmth seep into my fingers while the fragrant steam dances around my chilly nose. In this time of long nights and candle lights, sipping this magical brew while enjoying an old film is a great way to indulge in the charms of the season.
Here are my top 10 classic movies full of winter ambiance and cozy vibes to enhance cuddling up with a warm cup of tea. (In no particular order)
Portrait of Jennie (1948): Directed by William Dieterle, Starring Jennifer Jones & Joseph Cotten
Poetic, beautiful, and artistic. Portrait of Jennie captures the soft surreal quality of a cozy dream. There are several scenes of Central Park blanketed in snow. Characters enjoy tea by a cozy fire, mugs of hot chocolate, and ice skating. This movie has elements of the supernatural and a sense of the bittersweet. I enjoy the cinematography and Joseph Cotten’s voice is like a warm, comforting blanket.
The Invisible Man (1933): Directed by James Whale, Starring Claude Rains & Gloria Stewart
Cozy, yet lively as a crackling Yule log. The movie opens with a winter wind blowing across a snowy English countryside. This is a great movie to curl up under a blanket and enjoy the flurries of snow, Claude Rain’s delightful laughter, and some awesome special effects. We are treated to scenes with tea and the title character in pajamas, making this one of the coziest Universal Studios Classic “Monster” movies.
The Bishop’s Wife (1947): Directed by Henry Koster, Starring Loretta Young, David Niven, & Cary Grant
A heartwarming Christmas comedy. David Niven embodies a classic cup of English tea, Cary Grant raises our spirits like that first sip of a favorite blend, and Loretta Young brings the peaceful charm of an afternoon tea experience. Once again, we find a movie that treats us to snowy Central Park scenes, ice skating, and a touch of bittersweet romance.
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Best Winter Tea
‘Tis the season to bundle up and get cozy with winter tea blends. A nicely spiced holiday tea gets you in the festive mood with notes of cinnamon, clove, and ginger. I’ve come across seasonal blends that have a range of winter spices, dried fruits, and sweet notes like vanilla, chocolate, or caramel. Everyone may have their personal favorite (I sure do!), but this year I wanted to try a selection of Christmas and Winter themed teas to see if any come close to (or dare I say supplant) my ideal winter tea.
All I want this time of year is a hot cup tea full of warming spices to transport me to a winter wonderland. One sip and I’m in a wood cabin snuggled under a blanket by a crackling fire, watching the snow fall outside. This year I’ve found 7 teas to sample and rate, looking for the top tea to give me those cozy winter vibes. Let’s start our journey exploring a range of winter teas!
Winter Solstice: 5/5 | Peet’s – $
My all time favorite winter tea, this is comfort in a cup. I love the delicious aroma and blend of warming spices, with cozy vanilla, and hint of citrus. Winter Solstice has everything I want for a winter tea. This blend used to be really good, but over the years I think the ratio of ingredients has been tinkered with. I still love it even though I miss the Peet’s original blend (pre Mighty Leaf). I grew up drinking Peet’s tea so I have a particular fondness for this tea; some may find find it strong and bitter. I think it’s the bergamot that appeals to me. Is this the best winter tea, or am I just biased? That’s why I tried the following to compare!
Ingredients: Black Tea, Cinnamon, Orange Peel, Allspice, Natural Flavors, Bergamot Oil, Clove, Vanilla Bits
White Winter Chai: 5/5 | Art of Tea $$$$
This tea has nice, comforting, uplifting flavors of peppercorn and cinnamon with cozy cardamom and festive notes of anise and fennel. I really enjoy the combo of cardamom and white tea. Cardamom coats the tongue with the accompanying chai ingredients smoothly blending in. While drinking, your nose is filled with a fresh, subtle aroma of warming spices.
This tea is on the pricier side (especially if you splurge on the artisan tin like I did), but the quality is good and you can always wait for a sale. I took advantage of their black Friday deal. I will definitely be repurchasing in the 4oz pouch to restock my pretty tin! I’d rather have Winter Solstice for the price, but I am looking forward to enjoying this tea in future winters.
Ingredients: Organic White Tea, Organic Black Peppercorns, Organic Cinnamon, Organic Fennel, Organic Cloves, Organic Cardamom, Star Anise, Natural Flavors
Christmas Black Tea: 4.75/5 | Fortnum & Mason $
This tea reminds me of eating a chocolate orange on Christmas morning. It is a citrus forward holiday blend both in flavor and aroma. Clove is the dominant spice and when I accidentally over brewed it was a strong aftertaste that sat on my pallet for a while. (I realized there are proper whole cloves in the blend, so check how many you are getting in each teaspoon when measuring out your tea!). Since I don’t live in England I thought I would have to pay a lot for shipping, but found out Williams Sonoma carries a selection. You get a lot of tea for your buck and I can see this tin will lasting me until next year when I will gladly restock. At first I gave this a 4.5/5 since I’m not usually a fan or orange forward teas, but it has grown on me. Definitely a good contender for a winter favorite.
Ingredients: Black Tea, Cocoa Nibs, Cloves, Safflowers, Flavors of Orange, Ginger, Clementine, Chocolate
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Where to Buy Good Tea Online
Tea blogs are a great resource for discovering new teas to try! There are so many choices out there that following a recommendation can lead you to a tea you may have never heard of otherwise! I am always on the search for new tea to try and love to come across recommendations from others. So, if you’re looking to try something new, maybe you’ll find the following helpful. Here is a list of my go-to websites for where I buy tea online and my favorite teas.
Casablanca Teas is a small business that I am rooting for. This business is run by a mother daughter team whose goal is to discover the world’s finest teas. They travel the world and find small, multi-generational farms to source delicious, high-quality tea from. Sadly, they recently had to close their store location, but the tea is still available to order online! I am going to miss talking to the owner who is so knowledgeable about tea. I loved hearing how she discovered the tea and her experiences of traveling to the sources.
My favorite picks: Old Tree Yunnan & Chocolate Puer
Bird Pick Tea is another place that I discovered, whose store location I used to visit is now closed. But I can still get my favorites online!
My favorite picks: Premium Lychee Black & Premium Silky Green Oolong
My friend got me tea as a present from Satori Tea Company and I was excited to discover that I could order their tea online! I love the unique, flavorful blends. Also, I’ve been on the hunt for good tisane blends, and I was delighted to find they have a great selection. (Not to mention a blend we used to carry at the tea place I worked at before it closed. Hello old friend!)
My favorite picks: Valley of the Heart’s Delight (I just found out this tea is no longer available online… or maybe it never was? This is the one my friend bought me.) & Bahama Mama
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Cozy Topics and Tea Reviews!
Greetings fellow tea enthusiasts and lovers of cozy things. Welcome to Cozy Tea Time – your cozy vibes tea blog. Curl up with a cup of tea and enjoy my exploration of cozy topics and tea reviews. This will be your stop for comfort and respite, like the feeling of that first sip of tea on a grey winter day.
What’s to come – tea pairings and reviews, cozy categories of curated collections (aka top 10 lists), and lots of aesthetically comfy images from the lovely royalty free websites, Pexels and Unsplash. Whether you are new to tea or an old pro, hopefully you find some enjoyment here!
it’s always time for tea!
