HAPPY SUMMER SOLSTICE everyone. Now that summer is officially here, I thought it would be a good time to talk just a little about teas that I like in the hot weather.

We can start with Iced Tea. That can be made with either a "black" tea such as Nilgiri, Darjeeling, or any one of the other teas from India or China. My favorite, however, is a good Ceylon tea. I find that to give a good flavor, and, while I generally drink it unsweetened, I will very occasionally add a little sugar.

Some green teas also give a good result. One of my favorites is Gunpowder. This I ALWAYS drink unsweetened.

I just don't trust sun teas, though. With the long steeping time combined with the warm temperature, I'm never quite sure what's going on in the jar bacteria-wise. Has anyone here had any experience they would like to share?

As far as hot tea is concerned, I very much like the lightness of the white teas. One which I find very appealing is a style white tea called Sow Mee. A bit more flavor than White Peony or Silver Needle, and it leaves me whistling the tune so to speak.

At bed time, though, my favorite is Hojicha! It really doesn't matter what time of year it is for this one. The nutty taste and low theinine make this a most relaxing and satisfying prelude to a good night sleep.

I would love to hear about your ideas, so don't be shy about sharing. After all, this is a group in which you just CAN'T be wrong!

Happy summer sipping everyone! :-)