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If you're already a tea drinker, you might have tried mixing up your own tea blends before. I have my favorites but I think it's fun to experiment with new combinations and it certainly helps keep the taste bud boredom at bay. These are my tips on what teas to use, methods for blending and my top favorite tea blends.

Choosing your Tea
You may think you can only make tea blends from loose leaf teas but it's not true! Bagged teas are perfect for blending and it's stupid easy. Really. I'll show you.

You can use any bagged tea you like but I'm partial to Celestial Seasonings because (a) there's no string or tag and (b) they have so many delicious varieties. Also, their fruity herbal varieties typically don't need any sweeteners so this is a zero calorie treat that tastes good while keeping you warm and hydrated throughout the day.

Some of my favorites are: Tangerine-Orange Zinger, Sleepytime Vanilla, True Blueberry, Morning Thunder (black-mate), and Gen Mai Cha Green. There are over 60 varieties so, no doubt, there's something for everyone - and the vast majority are vegan (some contain honey; read the ingredients list).

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Blending Methods
The in-your-cup method is great but if you're going to blend 3 different flavors, you'll need a Venti-sized mug to do it in. If you drink a lot of tea already, this method isn't difficult to adjust to but if you're just starting out with tea, I might suggest saving this approach until later on.

Making your own tea concentrate is a great option. By steeping 3 tea bags in just 1 cup of hot water, you can make enough tea concentrate for 3 regular cups of tea. Just use 1/3 cup concentrate and 2/3 cup fresh hot water, stir and enjoy!

With a quart-sized mason jar, you can make large batch tea blends for drinking throughout the day (or as iced tea). A quart-sized jar is best for 4-6 bags, depending on how strong you like your flavors. I suggest always brewing tea a little strong when using this method, because you can always add fresh hot water to dilute it.

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Flavor Combinations
So, what kind of blends can you make? Here are some of my favorite flavor pairings and trios, as well as the "recipe" which is simply the ratio of each flavor in parentheses.

Blueberry-lemon-mint (1-1-1)
At my favorite vegan brunch spot in Seattle, Georgetown Liquor Company, I fell in love with a blueberry lemonade mojito. On first read, I thought there might be a bit too much going on, but it wasn't so. It's delicious, refreshing and unexpected.
Teas to use: Celestial Seasonings True Blueberry, Lemon Zinger and Peppermint.

Raspberry-Cinnamon Apple (2-1)
Fruity, spicy, yummy and good for you! This combination is a lot like dessert but without all those pesky calories and fat grams. Raspberry leaves are also known for their benefits to women's health. 
Teas to use: Raspberry Zinger and Cinnamon Apple Spice

Spiced Mandarin-Tangerine (1-1)
If you're a fan of orangey things, like I am, you'll love this one. I love the subtle chai-like spices of Mandarin Orange Spice but if I'm feeling a bit more orangey, I just add another Tangerine tea bag and all is well.
Teas to use: Mandarin Orange Spice and Tangerine-Orange Zinger

I hope these ideas have inspired you to try some new flavor combinations in your next cup of tea. With enough experimentation, you're certain to find THE perfect mix for your tastebuds and that's the blend you can name after yourself, even if it really should be called Strawberry/Cinnamon/Vanilla/Mango.

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