5 Magical Teas For May Day

Have you ever heard of May Day?

Not “Mayday!” as in the exclamation— that was historically used as a cry for help, originating from the French “M’aidez!” to request aid during an emergency.

May Day is the first day of May, and traditionally associated with wonderful celebrations to herald the coming of spring, new life, and new beginnings.

It conveniently comes after both Easter holidays in the Orthodox and Catholic practices respectively, as well as after Passover, providing a marker on the calendar that encourages us to think about moving forward with new plans, opening new personal blossoms, and reinvigorating the new delights and projects we may have started with the oncoming of spring. (All the way back in March, doesn’t it seem like forever ago?)

The kind of magic associated with May Day is centered around that sense of newness and self-development. Magic is often a powerful metaphor, right?

Luckily for us, tea is its own kind of magical metaphor. The wintry curled-up leaves, dry and brittle before they hit the cup, then—fwoosh! The cascade of boiling water that breaks the fibrous wall and allows aromas of fruit and flowers to permeate the air, just like spring does after we’re done with the snow.

(And if you’re local to the Northeastern area of the US, we’ve had snow even in March!)

That’s why some excellent magical teas are exactly what you need to celebrate this month. Here are some of my favorites that encapsulate the joy, fun, and festive nature of May!:

1. Berry Creme Compote

Whether you like to spell it “creme,” “cream,” or CREAM, the fact remains that adding an unctuous, dare I say “creamy” dessert note to a fruit-based tea is always a fabulous way to wrangle in the season of sweetness and sugary escapes.

I highly suggest making the most of it by serving it in any of Adagio’s adorable spring-style teaware, like the PersonaliTEA porcelain teapot, which comes in a number of flowery colors like sky blue, grasshopper green, and daffodil yellow. The best part about these pots is that they come automatically with two cups per pot, so that you’re entitled— nay, required! — to share your springtime sweetness with a friend. (Or more-than-friend! Wink wink, I won’t tell anyone.)

2. White Eternal Spring

Confession here: it was between this one and Buddha’s Dream, so secretly I’m giving them both to you as my next favorite spring medley for May.

Now, since both of these blends have base teas of the very specific White Peony type— secret shout-out to one of my best-beloved white teas for the average drinker learning to love beyond greens and blacks for the first time — you’ll want to be extra certain that you’re not steeping them at too high of a temperature, which can create undue astringency and bitterness.

For that, pick up a variable temperature kettle that you can set at the definitive temperature range that white teas prefer: just around the spring-sweet spot of 180 degrees Fahrenheit, and for no more than three minutes, pretty please and thank you! You’ll be rewarded with flavor-layers of fruit and fun that are exactly what May Day is about.

3. Pomegranate Green

Did you know that pomegranates are traditionally associated with the Greek goddess of spring, Persephone? The legend goes that upon a chance encounter with the god Hades, she spends half the calendar year either sowing seeds of growth and goodness in the mortal world, or by Hades’s side as Queen of the Underworld— six months in each realm, for six pomegranate seeds that she consumed while staying in the darkness. (Bonus: if you’re a fan of graphic novels as well as tea and mythology, then check out the https://www.adagio.com/signature_blend/group.html?group=18033 Lore Olympus signature blends for a delicious re-adaptation of the classic myth!)

4. Blackberry Sage Oolong

Will I ever stop recommending this one to unsuspecting tea connoisseurs? Probably not. Its faintly herbal undertones amid the sweet shading of blackberry and nutty oolong flavors are Magic with a capital M, thankyouverymuch. Sage is an herb associated with wisdom and clear thinking, derived from its antioxidant and antibacterial capabilities studied by scientists.

How magical is that, now? Take it with you iced in a convenient travel canister to experience an even lighter, brighter sense of its spirit.

5. Elderberry Wine

Don’t forget about your immune system during all the springtime festivities! Many folks might get a little carried away, now that the weather is with us, and a little too much partying can put an unwanted end to fun in the sun. So make sure to have a cup of this on hand for a supercharged flu-fighting weapon, and adding a teaspoon or so of Raw Fruit Tisane Honey will only increase the potential for its health benefits!

What are your favorite magical May medleys? Let us know in the comments!

Cheers!

Natasha Nesic

NASM Certified Personal Trainer and Nutrition Coach, Founder of Work Life Fitness