In our house, we love tea all year round but as the temperatures begin to slide down the thermometer, our tea drinking certainly increases. We all know that tea has been used for medicinal purposes for centuries and I'm not here to give you a history lesson (although I do reserve the right to teach and preach at a later date).

No, I just want to share with you a few of my favorite, simple tea recipes that get me up in the morning and keep me going throughout the day and, oftentimes, put me to bed at night.

Morning Start Tea
Yield: 1 serving

8oz hot (not boiling) water
1 tsp minced or pureed ginger root
1 tsp ground cinnamon
pinch of ground cardamom

Combine ginger, cinnamon and cardamom in tea cup. Pour hot water over and stir. Allow to sit a few minutes before enjoying. Can be sweetened with 1 tsp honey if desired.

Midday Slump-Chaser Tea
Yield: 1 serving

8oz hot (not boiling) water
1 teabag strong black tea, such as Irish breakfast tea
pinch of ground cayenne
few whole dried rosemary leaves (not whole sprigs!)

Place teabag, cayenne and rosemary in tea cup. Pour hot water over and allow to steep 3-4 minutes. Remove the tea bag (and fish out the rosemary leaves if you like). Enjoy as is, or stir in 1 Tbsp vanilla almond or oat milk.

Soothing Bedtime Tea
Yield: 1 serving

8oz hot (not boiling) water
2 tsp dried chamomile flowers
1/2 tsp dried catnip
1/2 tsp dried lemon peel or 1/2 tsp dried lemongrass or 1 tsp lemon juice

Place chamomile, catnip and lemongrass in a metal infuser spoon, basket or reusable tea bag and place in tea cup. Pour hot water over and allow to steep 5 minutes before enjoying.