94% of Britons have a newfound appreciation for simple pleasures, according to a recent survey. Many of us have realised that a slower way of life, where we savour everyday experiences and focus on the things that truly matter, can be a happier and more fulfilling one. One of the easiest and most effective ways to slow life down is to take more breaks – tea breaks!

Rather than grabbing tea-to-go from your nearest coffee shop and drinking it while checking emails, take the time out of your day to truly enjoy a proper cuppa.

The ritual of making a cup of tea and sitting back to enjoy it — and it alone — can do wonders for your mood and wellbeing. And if you want to take things one step further, you can exercise your creative side by making your very own blend. Here’s how.

CREATE YOUR OWN TEA BLEND

When making your first blends of tea, it’s a good idea to try mixing one or two of your favourite loose-leaf varieties and introducing one other flavour, experimenting with different ratios to get the right balance.

There are lots of ingredients you can incorporate, including herbs, spices, and fruits. The key is that they’re dried and cut into small pieces so that the water can properly extract flavour. It is usually possible to buy pre-dried ingredients or dehydrate fresh ones in the oven.

Ingredient ideas: Lavender, peppercorns, lemon, cinnamon, cardamom, cloves, ginger, lemongrass, rose petals, peppermint, liquorice root, raspberries, chamomile.

Once you’ve tried some simpler blends, you can begin to develop more complex flavour combinations. You might prefer to follow DIY tea recipes found online, but there’s something rewarding about making your own.

STORING AND GIFTING

You can store your original blend in a jar then simply use a tea strainer when it comes to serving. These jars are also wonderful for gifting, especially if you tie on a ribbon and attach a beautifully written label listing all the ingredients.

Another option is to create your own teabags. These contain just the right amount for a single cuppa and are perfect for gifting alongside a mug or teacup. Here’s how:

1. Cut 12cm x 12cm squares of food-grade muslin and 30cm lengths of embroidery thread.
2. Place 1.5 teaspoons of your tea blend into the centre of each square.
3. Bring the corners of each square together to create a "pouch" for the tea.
4. Secure each pouch in place by wrapping around and tying one end of thread (another pair of hands will be helpful).
5. Create labels by writing on 3cm x 6cm pieces of paper that have been folded in half.
6. Tuck the end of each thread into a label and staple in place.

To properly enjoy your tea and embrace slower living, put some time aside for the experience. Choose your favourite mug, find a cosy chair to snuggle up in, and put your phone to one side.

Hayley Baddiley is the Global Marketing Director at Denby. Denby’s versatile, beautiful, and durable ceramics help to elevate everyday moments at home and are handcrafted in their Derbyshire, England factory.