January is usually the coldest month, in the Northern hemisphere with colds and flu lurking around every corner. Use the remaining days in the month to celebrate National Hot Tea Month in America, with January 12 being National Hot Tea Day.

“January’s National Hot Tea Month can serve as a reminder to do something healthy for ourselves, like brew a hot cup of tea, which may provide a variety of health benefits, serve as a weight loss aid and help to ward off persistent cold and flu germs” said Joe Simrany, president of the Tea Council of the USA. “What more could you ask for in a beverage.”

How do I get in on the “Hot Tea Month” action?

There are still 3 days of January left which you can use to celebrate hot tea month.

The first thing you could do is enter the tea Association of the U.S.A’s tea sweepstakes. First off you have to be an American citizen (bummer) but none the less, The Tea Council wants you to express your #IndividualiTEA through its second annual photo or video sharing sweepstakes. Entering is as easy as 1-2-tea! Share your photo or video on Twitter, using the hashtag #individualiTEA and tag @TeaCouncil for a chance to win $500 and a years supply of tea.

Here are a few ways that the rest of us can still get in on the action and celebrate hot tea month along with our American friends:

1.  Try a new tea. Often we fall into a “rut” always going back to our favourites tea, although there is nothing wrong with this use the opportunity to be a bit adventurous and try something new
2. Give the gift of tea. If you love it, give some away! Gifting baskets of tea or tea sets is a unique and wonderful way to celebrate.
3. Use tea in cooking. Use green tea, vegetables, fish/tofu and leftover rice to make ochazuke (tea soup). If that’s too adventurous, substitute your favourite tea for the liquids (milk/water) in your baking recipes adding a twist to the flavour and colour. This works well with vanilla cakes and pancakes.
4. Use tea externally. tea is often incorporated into soaps, shampoos and lotions. The antioxidant properties in certain varieties have been proven to restore the PH balance of the hair and skin.
5. Use tea medicinally. Teas can be used medicinally, internally and externally. Some examples of ways that teas can be used medicinally are: Rejuvenate or settle stomach cramps with mint tea, Calm and reduce the effects of insomnia with chamomile tea, overcome nausea or colds with ginger tea

Share how you choose to celebrate National Hot Tea Month.