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In an effort to cut down on my morning stops at Starbucks (which have invariably also led to morning muffins, which I don’t need in my life every day,) I’ve been making myself drinks to tote to work instead. My best friend in college was a barista, so I was always getting delicious concoctions (and often having no idea what was in them) and a few weeks ago, she texted me that she found a replacement for my beloved sugar-loaded chai lattes. After some experimentation of my own based on her recipe, I’ve found my perfect morning brew.

• Kroger Private Selection Chai Black Tea
• Honey (I’ve been using local raw honey in an effort to help my allergies but you can use the bear or whatever you have around)
• Ice
• Vanilla almond milk, coconut milk, creamer, milk, whatever

Double brew a cup of tea – I usually do two bags in about 8 ounces of water. Once it’s done steeping, I pour in some honey for a little touch of sweetness. (You could also use flavored syrups instead of the honey.) Then I dump that over ice (adding more as it starts to melt – this is why you double brew) and top off with some almond milk. Much cheaper and much healthier than a coffee shop latte. Also very highly recommended: cute travel tumblers to hold your drink, of course!

I have some pumpkin tea and syrup that I’m excited to try when we get closer to fall.

If you’re looking for a way to try new teas, check out Tea Sparrow. It’s a subscription box that sends you an envelope of four loose-leaf teas to try every month. I was not disappointed by my first month – the creators of the box truly love tea and the curation and variety of teas is excellent.

If you want to try it, I have a Tea Sparrow discount code! Use the password “teas” and you’ll get your first Tea Box for $8 (a 60% discount) with the option to pause or cancel at any time.

What’s your favorite morning beverage?

I was provided a complimentary sample to review, but all opinions are my own.