Winter Warmth: The Story Behind Our Christmas Tea
- Anamika Singh
- 5 minutes ago
- 4 min read
As the Himalayan winter settles over the Dharamshala Tea estates and the first snow dusts the peaks, there's a ritual I look forward to every year—the blending of our Christmas Tea. After 35 years of working with tea, I can tell you that some blends are simply functional, but others carry the spirit of a season.
This one captures winter itself in a cup.
The Genesis of a Festive Blend
Creating our Christmas Tea wasn't about following trends or replicating European mulled wine in tea form. It began with a question from one of our luxury hotel partners 8 winters ago: "Can you create something that feels like the holidays but honors both tradition and wellness?"
I started with our autumn tea—that beautiful, mellow harvest that bridges the transition from warmth to cold. There's something inherently comforting about autumn leaves; they've absorbed the season's golden light and carry a natural sweetness that doesn't need enhancement. But winter demands more. It asks for warmth that radiates from within.
The Alchemy of Winter Spices
Each ingredient in our Christmas Tea was chosen not just for flavor, but for what it offers the body during the coldest months.
Cinnamon arrived first in my blending experiments. It's warming without being aggressive, sweet without added sugar, and has been used in Ayurveda for centuries to kindle the digestive fire that can grow sluggish in winter.
Clove came next. Just a whisper of it, because clove can overwhelm. But in the right proportion, it adds that deep, aromatic warmth that opens the sinuses and brings a sense of holiday nostalgia to anyone who's ever encountered it in traditional winter preparations.
Star anise was the bridge between East and West. Its licorice notes and beautiful star shape make it visually captivating, but I included it for its respiratory support properties—essential when cold air challenges our breathing.
The Bright Notes
Winter blends can become heavy, so I knew I needed brightness.
Orange peel—sun-dried, aromatic, carrying memories of citrus groves—cuts through the warming spices with its essential oils. Vitamin C for immunity, yes, but more importantly, it lifts the spirit on grey winter mornings.
The Indian black kishmish add a subtle tartness and a connection to our own landscape. These aren't imported exotica; they have been used traditionally for heart health and circulation—exactly what we need when temperatures drop.
The Grace Note
Rose petals were my final addition. They soften the entire blend, adding a floral elegance that transforms this from a medicinal preparation into a luxury experience. Rose is cooling in Ayurveda, which might seem contradictory in a winter blend, but it balances the heating spices perfectly and adds an element of self-care and beauty to the ritual.
And then there's vanilla—not extract, but real vanilla—which rounds everything out with its creamy, comforting sweetness. It's the ingredient that makes people close their eyes and smile when they take their first sip.
Two Ways to Welcome Winter
The Pure Infusion
Sometimes simplicity is perfect. Two grams of our Christmas Tea, five minutes in 250ml of freshly boiled water, and you have a cup that's both elegant and comforting.
I recommend this method for:
Morning rituals when you want something warming but not heavy
Afternoon pick-me-ups that don't disrupt sleep
After dinner when you want to aid digestion and signal to your body that the day is winding down
Spa services where the clarity of the infusion showcases each botanical
The Hot Mulled Tea Experience
This is where our Christmas Tea transforms into something extraordinary—a beverage that fills your entire space with the aroma of celebration. We've shared the detailed recipe and a video on our Instagram profile, but the essence is this: you're creating a winter elixir that's part beverage, part aromatherapy, part memory-making.
The hot mulled version is ideal for:
Holiday gatherings where the preparation itself becomes entertainment
Hotel welcome experiences that create an immediate sense of arrival
Evening spa rituals where guests can sip something soul-warming
Gift-giving moments when you want to share not just tea, but an experience
What Makes This a Wellness Blend
Beyond the festive appeal, our Christmas Tea supports the body through winter's challenges:
Circulation and Warmth: Cinnamon and clove are vasodilators, helping blood flow to extremities when cold makes us contract
Respiratory Support: Star anise and clove help keep airways clear during the season of colds and congestion
Digestive Comfort: Rich holiday foods are easier to process with cinnamon's digestive kindling and clove's carminative properties
Immune Resilience: Orange peel's vitamin C and the antioxidants from autumn tea and rose support natural defences
Stress Relief: The aromatic compounds create a form of edible aromatherapy, calming the nervous system during the often-hectic holiday season
A Note on Sourcing
Every botanical in this blend meets our uncompromising standards. The autumn tea base comes from our Dharamshala Tea estates. The spices are sourced from trusted partners who share our commitment to purity—no artificial flavouring, no added sugars, no shortcuts. Each batch is something I personally taste and approve, because your guests or family deserves nothing less than excellence.
Creating Your Winter Ritual
Whether you're a spa director looking to enhance your winter wellness menu, an F&B manager crafting a signature hotel experience, or someone seeking to make your home feel like a sanctuary during the cold months, our Christmas Tea offers versatility.
Serve it as a welcome drink when guests arrive from the cold. Offer it as an afternoon amenity that shows thoughtfulness. Present it as a turndown service alternative to hot chocolate. Or simply make it your personal winter ritual, a few moments of warmth and intention in the midst of busy days.
The Memory in Every Cup
What I love most about this blend is how it creates memory. Years from now, someone will encounter cinnamon and orange, and they'll remember that winter at your property, or that holiday season, or that quiet morning when they gave themselves the gift of pause.
That's what truly exceptional tea does—it marks time, honours seasons and creates moments worth remembering.
This winter, may your cup be warm, your spirit bright and your celebrations infused with the simple pleasure of something beautiful and well-made.
Our Christmas Tea is available now through our HORECA program. For bespoke winter wellness blends or to discuss custom creations for your property, I invite you to connect with us directly. After all, the best blends begin with conversation.
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