When the sun’s out and the days are long, it’s time to take your tea outside. There’s something about summer that invites us to slow down and savor life's simpler pleasures, like walking barefoot in the grass, the scent of sunscreen, and breezy conversations with a cool drink in hand. This summer, we’re trading lace tablecloths and tiered trays for picnic blankets and wicker baskets. Whether you’re planning a backyard hangout, a day at the park with your friends, or a quiet solo moment under a shady tree, a tea picnic is a refreshing way to get outside and soak in the season.
Packing Your Picnic
Don’t get us wrong, we adore a traditional tea party, but there’s a relaxed charm to a picnic that feels wonderfully carefree. It’s about grabbing your favorite drinks, tossing together a few snacks, and enjoying the great outdoors with good company. What goes better with summer than iced tea? We have an entire collection of Fresh Brew Iced Teas to select from, including our staples: Peach, Classic Black, and Tropical Mango.
When packing a picnic, it’s important to bring a cooler or drink dispenser to keep your beverages chilled and safe from the heat. For a backyard picnic, our ForLife Mist Iced Tea Jug is a great option. It was designed with simplicity in mind, for both making and storing iced tea. The double-ring silicone gasket ensures the lid won’t fall off while serving. Crafted from hand-blown borosilicate glass, the jug itself is built to handle big temperature swings, making it perfect for both hot and cold iced tea brewing methods. If you’re transporting tea to take with you to the park, beach, or nature preserve, we suggest a large insulated water bottle or thermos. Our Teasy Insulated Flask makes it easy to keep hot tea hot and iced tea cold. (Plus, it comes in several gorgeous colors.)
Once you’ve got the gear, the best part begins: picking your teas. Beyond the classics, we’ve got even more fresh-brewed iced tea flavors to explore, each one perfect for cooling down and brightening up your picnic spread.
- Indigo Punch – A vibrant, fruity combination of butterfly pea flower, hibiscus, rosehips, and apple pieces with flavors of lemon, raspberry, and honey.
- Watermelon Mint – This crisp and refreshing brew boasts a summery flavor profile of soothing green tea, strawberry, watermelon, and mint.
- Passion Fruit – Full-leaf Chinese black tea blended with the sweet flavors of passion fruit for a dessert-like tropical brew.
- Raspberry Herbal – One of our most loved blends, this tea was created as a healthful indulgence. A blend of floral rosehips, tropical hibiscus, fresh raspberry leaves, and flavors of orange, lemon, spearmint, apple, and peppermint. Plus, it’s caffeine-free!
- Blueberry Green – Perfect for relaxing in the heat or the comfort of your home. This blend combines the fragrant body of a traditional green tea with a summertime farmstand staple: fresh blueberries.
Pop the Top
Sometimes there’s just no time to brew. If you’re looking for something quick to grab and go, we’ve got you covered. Our canned and bottled teas make it easy to fill the cooler with drinks everyone will love. You’ll find all the classic brews you love in our premium bottled collection, along with a refreshing lineup of lemonades and juices.
- Organic Lemonade & Tea – Our take on the classic Arnold Palmer, but we sweeten ours with organic cane sugar and honey for a tart and lightly sweet finish.
- Organic Green with Citrus & Ginkgo – Brewed with ginkgo biloba, this blend offers a grassy aroma and bold flavor for the true green tea enthusiast. Refreshing, distinctive, and packed with benefits.
- Organic Raspberry Lemonade Juice – A vibrant mix of organic lemonade and our beloved Raspberry Herbal. It’s sweet, tart, and picnic-perfect
- Organic Black Sweet Iced Tea – This simple twist on Southern tea blends organic black tea with organic cane sugar for an easy, sweet sip every time.
If you’re not into classic iced tea, there are plenty of canned beverages that are just as convenient (and delicious). Pop the top on our new Pineapple and Watermelon juices. Made from 100 percent fresh fruit, both drinks are packed with electrolytes and antioxidants to help you stay hydrated in the summer heat. Our juices, along with our Premium Coconut Water, can be sipped solo or mixed with your favorite teas.
Another great option is our Nitro Hot Cinnamon Spice canned tea. We know it might not scream summer, but hear us out. Our very first draft tea is a bold, fizzy, and totally unexpected take on one of our best-sellers. The signature cinnamon kick is paired with a smooth nitrogen finish, making it a great option for spice lovers or anyone looking to shake up their usual cold brew lineup.
Bring the Heat
Sure, it’s 80 degrees and sunny, but some habits aren’t just hard to break, they’re a part of who we are. So if your perfect picnic moment includes a steaming cup of hot tea, we fully support you. Not only that, we have a complete list of recommendations to fit the vibe.
- Garden Therapy Herbal Tea – A part of our Metropolitan Museum of Art collection, the tin alone is a stunning selection. The soothing blend of chamomile, peppermint, and verbena is perfect for a quiet moment alone or a relaxing picnic lunch with friends.
- Peach Fruit Tea – Fresh peach pieces are blended with rosehips and hibiscus for a tea that tastes as vibrant and delightful as it looks.
- Berry Cobbler – The winner of our 2022 Happy Blendings contest, this blend layers a mellow-bodied herbal base with flavors of blueberry, raspberry, vanilla, and cinnamon. All that’s missing is the ice cream.
- Williamsburg Summer Afternoon Tea – I mean, it’s quite literally in the name. This delightful blend screams summer with the inclusion of green tea, lemon peel, verbena, marigold petals, cornflowers, and natural flavors of grapefruit and honey.
Wait, Snacks!
In all our excitement over tea (can you blame us?), we nearly forgot one essential part of any picnic: the food. A well-stocked basket makes all the difference, whether you’re going big with a full spread or keeping it simple with snacks. Where else to go other than the Harney & Sons Pantry? We’re talking Walkers Shortbread cookies, a few jars of tea jam for your charcuterie board, and maybe some homemade scones if you’re feeling fancy.
Want to take your picnic spread to the next level? Fire up the grill and surprise your friends with a BBQ twist they won’t see coming. Short ribs brined and glazed with a tea-infused barbecue sauce? That’s next-level picnic prep. Get the full recipe in our Cooking With Tea: Tea Rub and BBQ Sauce blog. All that’s left? Grab your best outdoor blanket, picnic basket, find a sunny spot, and sip the day away. We’ll supply the tea if you bring the vibes.
