When the weather gets colder and sweater season is upon us, we all need a tasty drink to cozy up with on the chilly winter mornings. Comforting beverages are a staple in any household, especially when you want to relax with a warm drink and watch your favorite holiday special. It can be hard to think of simple, yet flavorful drinks to whip up quickly, which is why I have the perfect list of delicious morning beverages for you to choose from. 

First is, in my opinion, the best winter drink: hot chocolate. Hot chocolate is an effortless, warm and tasty drink, which is great for cold mornings when you’re rushing out of the house. My favorite type is peppermint hot chocolate with marshmallows and whipped cream; it always makes me excited for warm fires and the holidays, especially Christmas. Technically, hot chocolate could be considered a tasty dessert, but who’s to say? Cozying up with a hot chocolate is THE definition of a heartwarming holiday season.

The second drink is an oldie but a goodie: coffee. Coffee is a classic, universal drink that’s easy to make and hard to mess up, especially if you’re getting it at a cafe. One great quality about coffee is how easily customizable it is; just add a few simple flavorings, like vanilla or mocha, some milk and sugar, and you’ve got a perfect drink that fits your preferences. Also, besides helping to wake you up on slow mornings before school, coffee also doesn’t actually stunt your growth! Of course, coffee can be somewhat bitter, particularly for the people that favor a sweeter option, which is why chai may be an excellent option for you. 

Chai can be so many drinks, but it is specifically a tea that’s often turned into a latte. I personally like the latte rendition of this treat, but the tea is a great choice if you prefer decaf. As a chai connoisseur myself, I can also tell you how easy it is to make your own chai at home. I would recommend getting a chai latte/chai tea mix and just adding some milk, but you could, of course, get the authentic tea bag and drink that instead. Lots of shops sell chai lattes by now, but I will say that nothing is quite like cozying up by the fireplace with your own homemade chai.

Next, in honor of quarter zip season, is matcha. The rumours that matcha tastes like grass are completely false, if you ask me. I will admit that the drink can be bitter at times, but that’s irrelevant if you get it from the right place, or make it yourself and fit it to your desires. Matcha can be a nice break from the sweeter winter drinks, like hot chocolate, and it’s packed with ingredients that help sustain your immune system through the cold winter months. Like chai, it can also be turned into a latte if you like to be caffeinated, and you could definitely get away with putting additions in your matcha, like sweetener or cold foam, especially if you’re getting it at Starbucks.

Although matcha and chai are considered tea, tea is a generally soothing drink to warm up with when the weather gets chilly, and it deserves its own spot in this list. The greatest thing about tea is how versatile it is; you can turn it into a latte, spice it up with some honey or by adding garnishes like fruit and herbs, there’s almost too many options! Also, not to be that person, but it’s incredibly beneficial to your health. Tea keeps you hydrated, comforts you when you’re sick, helps you sleep, and can reduce the risk of chronic disease; plus, it’s genuinely really good. 

So, if you need inspo for some cozy winter drinks to warm up with during the snowy season, then enjoy this list. I’m sure they’ll comfort you as much as a warm fireplace would.