mere’s nook nook

with age comes the breaking down of the body. unfortunately. though I was never really a heavy soda drinker, I never rejected the chance to have a mexican coca cola or slurpee–and to this day this is still true–but every other sugar filled drink was easily forgotten and each year passed.

over the years, many drinks became part of my daily routine: sparkling water during lunch, cold brew coffee in the morning, probiotic soda after dinner. but it’s the cold brew tea and canned tea that have stuck around the longest.

I love the process of choosing a loose leaf tea, measuring out the perfect amount into the perfect pitcher, adding room temperature water, then snugly placing it into my fridge for 12 hours. my favorite part is when its color changes from clear water to the dark hue of black tea, the yellow hue of green tea, or the subtle yellow of white tea.

the tea holds enough flavor to drink without any additives. but when I am craving something extra, I liquify some white sugar or add a splash of milk. very rarely I’ll add a teaspoon of honey since it’s not really my thing for cold brew tea.

cold brew tea is perfect for summer and spring. but it’s canned tea I turn to in the colder months of fall and winter.

because it’s so cold, I can leave the can on the table and let the natural cold chill the can for me. whereas cold brew tea is too cold for me on cold mornings.

plus, the canned tea is convenient. the invention of the canned beverage is something we all love. we can carry it without the anxiety of dropping it and breaking it; we can throw it in our cars or bags or drawers in fridges; we can take it on road trips or camping trips. it’s a convenient device that can be filled with anything we want.

a few years ago when everyone was creating sugar free sodas, healthy probiotic drinks, stevia in soda, unique flavored sparkling waters, there were people also making canned tea. some of us don’t want the carbonation of soda or sparkling but still want that refreshing gulp come from a can in our hands. some companies have taken to flavoring their teas using lemonade, honey, or stick to the classic of white sugar.

I enjoy all of it. but there are a few brands that I keep extras on hand because they’re just too good to not have around. I’m sure other people have their little stash of canned drinks in their house. it’s one of the better feelings of having a filling meal or stressful day or a sudden rush of dry mouth so you go to your kitchen and see your little stash on your shelf or in your fridge; the feeling of pulling the aluminum tab and then the pop then taking that big first gulp and deep breath.