(MS) – As the holidays bring families and friends together, it is the perfect time to share the culinary traditions that make this season so special. Holiday food and drink remind us of seasons past and are a favorite part of almost every celebration. From an old friend’s recipe for sugar cookies to a new twist on roasting the traditional turkey, time-treasured meals and menus sustain the body and nurture the soul.

The ritual of tea is a holiday tradition enjoyed in countless American homes. From a mother and daughter starting their day at the kitchen table to the reunited family gathered around the hearth after a celebratory meal, a warming cup of tea offers a comforting and communal way to come together and relax during this special time of year.

With more than 1,500 different teas and tea blends on the market today, choosing the right one for your occasion is a matter of taste. Some flavors, such as Bigelow Tea’s “Constant Comment,” seem especially well-matched to the holiday season. With its delicate flavors of orange rind and sweet spice, the heartwarming aroma of a steeping cup of “Constant Comment” will infuse any room with holiday spirit.

Traditional teas, such as English Teatime and English Breakfast, offer classic black-tea flavor. For a more flavorful brew, try a specialty tea such as Earl Grey, Lemon Lift or French Vanilla. Green tea offers a delicate brew because the leaves are steamed in the production process and not fermented like black teas. According to the Tea Council of the United States, herbal teas are not considered true teas as they are not made from the leaves of the tea plant. Rather, herbal teas are blends of herbs, dried fruits and spices, which when brewed, are naturally caffeine-free.

No matter which tea you choose, a perfected brewed cup is found in the balance of ingredients and method. According to the experts at Bigelow Tea, selecting quality tea bags, while keeping an eye on water, timing and temperature, will guarantee excellent results.

The perfect cup of tea

• Always start with fresh tea.

• Always use fresh, cold water, and never reheat water left in the kettle.

• For best results, run the water at the tap for a least one minute to clear any stale water from the pipes.

• If you live in an area where the water is heavily treated, use bottled water.

• When water comes to a full, rolling boil, pour immediately over the tea bag in the cup.

• Allow flavored and traditional teas to steep for one to two minutes. Allow herbal and decaffeinated teas to steep three to five minutes.

• When using delicate green teas, bring water just up to the boiling point, but not to a full, rolling boil, and steep for one to two minutes.

• After steeping, remove the tea bag from the cup and set aside. For best flavor, do not squeeze liquid from the tea bag.

• Sip. Savor. Enjoy.

The perfect pot of tea

• Always start with fresh, cold water, and never reheat water left in the kettle.

• “Take the chill off the pot” by rinsing it first with very hot water.

• Put one fresh tea bag in the pot for each cup that will be served. If your guests prefer stronger tea, add an extra bag “for the pot.”

• Allow flavored and traditional teas to steep five minutes. Allow herbal and decaffeinated teas to steep five minutes or longer.

• Remove bags from pot when steeping is finished. For best flavor, do not squeeze liquid from tea bags.

• If a weaker cup is preferred, hot water should be added to prepared tea.

• Cover pot with a tea cozy, which will keep it warm.

• Share. Sip. Socialize.

For more information on tea, tea gifts and entertaining with tea, visit www.bigelowtea.com.