New Delhi: "We amuse our evenings with tea. Tea solaces our midnights, and of course tea welcomes our mornings," says famous poet Samuel Johnson.

The saying is true for all the tea lovers. However, tea is not something that one would associate with the summer season.

Tea can be drunk now with the addition of various flavours like elaichi tea or floral tea. Chamomile tea in particular helps soothes the nerves. Jasmine tea can reduce water retention and general heaviness.

And it is perfect for summer the summers because of its cooling effect on the body. Says nutritionist, Dr Shikha Sharma, "Amongst the floral teas, rose tea is very popular because it has sleep-inducing affects. There are also other teas like fruit infusion teas like mango and strawberry. You can easily drink them after dinner, as they do not have any side effects like acidity. They are also full of anti oxidants."

Brews including hibiscus and peppermint tea can end a day perfectly when you are looking forward to a good nights' sleep. You can also find herbal teas now that are derived from flowers, herbs and spices. So instead of adding these to your tea you can buy the readymade variety.

And if you want the right flavour you can try making tea the Japanese way. It is hassle-free. You just have to pour some hot water on tealeaves and your tea is ready. A Japanese green tea is great for summer because it cools you down not to mention ice teas when it comes to beating the heat.