Cheers to Tea Time: 5 Tasty Alcoholic Teas for Your Next Celebration

Having a cup of tea with a meal or a quick snack is one of life's simple pleasures – so much so that it merits its own celebration, such as National Tea Day. Drinking tea is a ritual embedded in many cultures. Tea culture apparently dates back to 2737 BC in China, according to legend, but there are now so many fashionable flavours to be found worldwide such as fruit teas and caffeinated or non-caffeinated tea varieties which go beyond the traditional builders tea or dreaded tasteless milky teas! There is truly a type of tea for everyone these days and that includes cocktail lovers too as there are tea infused cocktails to satisfy most tastes.

Believe it or not, but there are tea cocktails to suit each stage of your dining experience from eating starters right the way through to indulging in desserts! If that piques your interest (and why wouldn’t it), here are five alcoholic teas that will absolutely satisfy both tea drinkers and cocktail lovers alike!

Tios Hard Tea Light & Stormy

Tios hard tea is a sparkling tea infused entry in the RTD (ready to drink) cocktails market and is designed to be drunk on the go! It is made with organic white tea with a twist to provide a variation of your favourite cocktails such as Dark and Stormy. This rum based tea cocktail is a light brown colour which would look familiar to ice tea lovers with an intense ginger flavour profile providing that tangy sensation on the nose and palate. Well blended without being sugary, this is a vegan certified product that will go well by your side at afternoon tea and summer festivals as an aperitif!

Size: 250ml
ABV: 4.4%
Price: £16.99 for 6 cans

Riddles Mango Ice Tea

A sparkling ice tea rum blend that is slightly orange tinged and infused with Nigerian Moringa tea. According to folklore, there are health benefits associated with drinking Moringa tea and this works well with the fruity mango flavour to produce an easy drinking, light cocktail without reducing the flavour! It is so smoothly blended that neither the rum nor the tea dominate, but then again that will make it ideal to pair with the well-seasoned Caribbean Sunday dinner of rice, peas and chicken!

Size: 250ml
ABV: 4%
Price: £2

Masons of Yorkshire, Tea Edition

Tea drinkers and gin lovers will rejoice with this ideal combination of flavours for the Tea Edition of this gin! Mason’s Tea Edition blends dry Yorkshire tea with the botanicals and juniper flavours from the gin profile. It will be an excellent drink for both cosy nights in, as the warmth and alcohol strength will keep the cold weather at bay, and it will be suitable for the spring and summer climates too with its refreshing citrus and slightly sweeter taste. Look no further, If you are seeking that Trou Normand as that palate cleanser between dishes - this Tea Edition would be good for that or you could simply have it as a shot or on the rocks, as we said - it will please many!

Size: 700ml
ABV: 42%
Price: £33.95

Noveltea Whisky & Oolong Tea

Coming on to that after dinner time, when you might still be craving a night cap, this tea liqueur from Noveltea combines whisky with the lighter, fruity oolong tea variety. This is a boozy cocktail which is best served chilled with ice. It is as dark in colour as a traditional Scotch whisky, but without the high alcohol content! Smooth on the mouth, without being overpowering, with a subtle, smoky whisky aroma and a hint of lemon – this digestif combination is a natural partnership that will make you want more as the night draws to a close!

Size: 500ml
ABV: 15%
Price: £27.50

Tipsy Tea Spiced Chai

You might enjoy having a cuppa before bed and this spiced chai liqueur is perfect for those cosy moments to unwind at home. Packed full of spices, this alcoholic tea is designed to be mixed – you can be adventurous and try it hot or cold! Simply add a shot of hot water or sparkling cold water with a slice of lemon and away you go! Its golden colour also provides that sense of warmth in this fruity blend which tastes just like a herbal tea but with that added kick! It’s the perfect drink for catching up with the gossip with friends after that night out or dinner party!

Size: 350ml
ABV: 20%
Price: £15

Even if you may not be a regular tea drinker, these alcoholic teas explore its versatility for all meal times, tastebuds and special occasions. These will definitely satisfy those cocktail lovers searching for a lighter but flavourful alternative to their favourite cocktails and for tea drinkers seeking the tea version of an Irish coffee! The burning question now is – which boozy tea will you try first?

If you want to make some of your own boozy tea combinations, here are some suggestions to get you started.

By Latoya Austin

Cocktail Squad - Cocktails in a can

There is a long history of companies trying to make cocktails in a can and, up to now, there have been varying results. But there is now a company that has managed to create something really tasty. Cocktail Squad was created by Lauren and John Maggio. Lauren was born and raised in New Orleans, so it’s fair to say that the Laissez les Bon Temps Rouler attitude runs deep in her soul. 

A few years ago, Lauren was immersed in the world of raising four young children.  Actively trying to find a balance between her old and new life, she rarely had babysitter back-up and dinners out were not a frequent affair.  Frequently, Lauren and John were passing ships but when they could, they would steal away to catch up.

On one such occasion, the couple met at the bar of a new restaurant in Boulder and had a great cocktail. Having returned to the bar for more, they realised they couldn’t do this all the time and asked the barman for the recipe. He kindly obliged. Having made the cocktail for themselves, they thought: wouldn’t others like a cocktail that was ready to drink? And wouldn’t it be even better if it was in a can and therefore portable? With John’s experience of guiding companies in the food and beverage arena, Lauren knew she had the beginnings of something special.

They have six cocktails in the range which are all different and all very good. They are: the Greyhound, Gin and Tonic, Margarita, Vodka Soda, a Whisky Sour and a Bourbon Smash. If you have any of these cocktails made for you in a bar, they will vary in flavour and quality. I’ve had incredibly simple cocktails in one bar and then the same in another bar, only a few streets away, and it’s been terrible. The great advantage of the Cocktail Squad cocktails is the consistency. They will always taste great, and the next one will taste just as good as the last one! All are 10% ABV, gluten free and should retail at $4.99 – $5.99 per can and $20 – $24 per four pack.

The cocktails in their range have won many awards. Launched in 2018, they boast fifteen to date with some gold awards in the mix too. The Whisky Smash took gold in the Sunset International Spirits Competition in 2019 and the Greyhound won gold in the New York Spirits Competition in the same year.

People might say that it’s easy enough to make some of these cocktails at home. Whilst I can agree with that, it’s pretty tricky taking your perfectly-made cocktail out with you. The can is hugely convenient and no other mixers are needed. Perfect for any excursion, picnic, BBQ, rock concert or any situation where you’d like quick and easy access to a delicious drink.

My only complaint is that having enjoyed these in the USA, I can’t get them at home in the UK. So I’ll be booking my ticket back as soon as I can.