New Delhi, Oct. 18 -- It's the time of the year when I look forward to new festive blends but 2026 has been disappointing. I found the old familiar blends featuring chamomile and saffron, but not much else. So, I thought to ditch the blends and ask a bartender for tips for a fun and festive tea.

Hiranmayee Dasgupta is a Nagpur-based mixologist and bar trainer who has been "exploring the world of sober". Her recipes for tea-based drinks are flexible enough to accommodate a range of teas and flavour preferences. There are both hot and cold infusions.

There are two ways to make the hot brew: you brew the tea first and then infuse it with other ingredients. Or you can combine the tea with the other ingredients as a single brew. With the lat...