Tea Recipes

Recipes to Ride the Earl Grey Trend

March 5, 2018

If you’ve looked at a restaurant menu lately, chances are you’ve seen earl grey somewhere on it. Supermarket News lists earl grey as one of the top 10 trends of 2018, and it’s easy to see why: this tea flavor is booming, appearing on 1 in 10 menus, and not just in the tea category, according to Mike Kosto, senior publications manager at food trends market research giant Datassential. Following the rise of matcha as an ingredient used far beyond the teacup, earl grey is being used to flavor non-beverage items, mostly desserts and cocktails. Check out these earl grey desert and cocktail recipes to get in on the trend:

DESSERTS

Honey Earl Grey Fig Cake

This cake from The Little Epicurian tops an earl grey-flavored cake with honey cream cheese frosting and garnishes it with real figs, honey, and pistachios. The cake batter uses milk that’s been infused with earl grey tea and egg whites, resulting in a soft and delicate texture. The author feels that the cream cheese frosting “works well to enhance the orange notes of Earl Grey,” and we have a feeling you’ll agree.

Earl Grey And Mango Tiramisu

This recipe from Red Magazine offers three new flavors to this traditional Italian dessert: earl grey, mango, and pistachio. Sponge biscuit fingers are soaked in earl grey tea, then lovingly layered with cream and mangoes. Dust with pistachios for a crunchy finish!

Earl Grey Chocolate Pots de Crème with Honey Coconut Whip

This recipe from The Pig & Quill pairs earl grey with chocolate in an adorable medium: pots de crème. Light coconut milk is used as a healthy substitute to half and half. Begin by steeping earl grey tea in coconut milk, then add to a mixture of chocolate chips, eggs, vanilla, and salt. Pour into individual glasses and chill at least four hours—or, ideally, overnight—and then top with honeyed whip, chocolate chips, and crushed cookies. Picture-perfect and oh-so-delicious!

Earl Grey Chocolate Bread Pudding

This recipe from Bite Me More elevates classic bread pudding with chocolate and earl grey tea. Add whipped cream for a silky finish and you’re off to the races.

COCKTAILS

Earl Grey Martini

This martini recipe from Olivia’s Cuisine combines strong earl grey tea with gin, lemon juice, simple syrup, and egg whites. Says the author, “The subtle botanicals in the gin pair nicely with the earl grey and lemon flavors, making this a very delicate and aromatic cocktail.”

Earl Grey Margarita

This margarita recipe from Hope & Glory features a bitter dose of earl grey to balance out the sweet and sour tastes of a classic margarita. Bottom’s up!

Earl Grey Blackberry Bourbon Cocktail

This cocktail recipe from Beginning With Bergamot is a simple combination of bourbon whiskey, earl grey tea, blackberry, and simple syrup. A rosemary and blackberry garnish finishes things off. The author promises the cocktail is “rich, warm, and fruity.” Sounds good to us!

Earl Grey Lemon Vodka John Daly Cocktail

This cocktail recipe from Boulder Locavore is the perfect way to dress up vodka with flavor and fun. Start with earl grey iced tea, add lemonade and lemon vodka, and presto: it’s happy hour.

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Tea Health Benefits

6 Ways to Use Tea that Doesn’t Involve Drinking It

December 29, 2015

There are many benefits to drinking tea, but did you know you can get some of those same benefits by using it in a different way? Below are a few creative ways to repurpose those tea leaves and tea bags you’ve already steeped. It’s both sustainable and easy to incorporate into your everyday life.

1. Hydrating face mask

You’ll need:

2 tbsp green tea leaves
1 tbsp mashed banana
1 tsp plain yogurt
1 cup water

Instructions:

Mix 1 cup of water in a pan and 2 tbsp of green tea leaves.
Boil it in the low flame for few minutes.
Allow it few minutes to cool and then strain the tea.
Add 1 tbsp of banana and 1 tsp of plain yogurt to the green tea.
Mix the ingredients well to make a smooth paste.
Apply the paste to your face and leave it on for 20 minutes.
Wash off with cool water.
Repeat this method twice or thrice in a week.
Follow this remedy till you get relief from this acne issue.

Note: You can replace banana with peach or papaya.

2. Acne fighting mask

Green tea has antibacterial properties and honey does as well. This combination plus the rice will help reduce oils and bacteria on the skin, which will reduce acne.

You’ll beed:

1 tbsp honey
2 tbsp rice flour
1 tbsp or 1 green tea bag
3-4 drops of lemon juice (optional)

Instructions:

Take ½ cup of boiling water and boil the green tea powder in it.
Add 1 tbsp of honey to the mixture.
Add 2 tbsp of rice flour to make a thick paste.
Increase the content of honey or rice flour to make the paste thick enough to apply on your face.
Mix the paste well to avoid lumps.
Apply it on your face with your fingertips.
Keep it on for 20 minutes.
Remove it using warm water.
Apply it twice a week to quickly reduce the spread of acne and remove the scars.

3. DIY fabric dyeing

Dyed Tea Swatches via Lost In Paris

You’ll need:

100 tea bags
4 tbsp salt or vinegar (optional and to your discretion)
A pot large enough for the fabric to move freely
Large spoon or thongs to stir
Approximately 1 yard of fabric per 4 cups concentrated tea (natural fibers work best: cotton, wool, silk)

Instructions:

Wash the fabric first to remove any manufacturer’s chemicals which may interfere with the dyeing process. (I recommend experimenting with small swatches first.)
Fill pot with water.
Simmer tea bags with salt (or vinegar) for 30 minutes.
Turn off the heat.
Remove tea bags from the pot (leaving them in results in splotches where the bags make contact with the fabric.)
Add fabric to the pot. The fabric must be damp first, to eliminate air pockets.
Soak fabric for up to one hour, depending on the desired shade. Stir every few minutes so the fabric takes the colour evenly.
Rinse in cold water.

Note You can also do this with Easter Eggs!

Source

4. Green tea ice cream with earl grey dark chocolate fudge sauce

Traditional Japanese Green Tea Ice Cream Recipe

You’ll need:

1 cup heavy whipping cream
1 cup whole milk
1/2 cup sugar
3 tbsp matcha green tea powder
1 pinch of salt

Instructions:

Put the cream, milk, sugar, matcha powder, and salt in a heavy bottomed saucepan and whisk ingredients until combined. Try and whisk the majority of lumps away, but don’t worry if it’s not perfectly smooth. The next step should help eliminate most of the lumps.
Heat the mixture on medium-high heat until it comes to a full boil. Keep whisking until it starts to foam. At this point, your mixture should be pretty lump free — the heat will have eliminated most of the lumps. Remove from heat.
Transfer the mixture into a large bowl and let it cool down. Cover, then refrigerate the mixture in the coldest part of your fridge for at least four hours, or, ideally, overnight.
When the mixture has chilled, remove cover and give the mixture a whisk to bring it together. Churn for 20 – 25 minutes in an ice cream maker, or, according to your manufacturer’s instructions. Serve freshly spun — it will have an incredibly creamy texture (almost that of soft serve) at this point. For a more traditional ice cream texture, transfer to an airtight container and freeze overnight.

Dark chocolate earl grey fudge sauce

You’ll need

3 tbsp water
1 garl grey tea bag
1 ounce 72% dark chocolate, chopped
2 tbsp unsweetened, dutched cocoa powder
1/8 tsp kosher salt
2 tbsp light corn syrup
2 tbsp sugar
1/4 cup heavy whipping cream

Instructions

Bring the water to a boil in a small saucepan or in a tea cup in the microwave. Remove from heat, add the tea, and let steep for 4 minutes or longer (depending on how much you want your fudge sauce to taste like tea).
Wring and remove the tea bag and pour the tea into a medium bowl. Add the chocolate, cocoa powder, and salt.
Combine the corn syrup, sugar, and heavy cream in a heavy-bottomed saucepan and stir intermittently while bringing to a boil over high heat. The moment it boils, pour it into the bowl holding the chocolate. Let sit for 1 full minute.
Slowly begin to whisk the mixture. Then continue, increasing the vigor of your whisking every 30 seconds, until the mixture is glossy and silky-smooth. This will take 2 to 4 minutes, depending on your speed and strength. You can use the sauce at this point, or store it in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 2 weeks. Do not freeze.

Source

5. Eye depuffer

Brew two bags of tea, wring them out then simply apply a tea bag on each eye. Let sit for 10-15 minutes. It really does soothe tired eyes, and it’s easy enough to incorporate with a face mask to achieve total spa level relaxation.

6. Bug bite relief

Repeat #5 above, rather place tea bag on bug wounds. Green tea bags make a great itch reliever.

Tea never disappoints. For something so old, we’re constantly finding new ways to use it.

What are some other ways you’ve discovered to creatively use tea?

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Tea Guides

Non-Pumpkin Flavors to Enjoy This Fall

October 16, 2015

Now that it’s fall, odds are you’ve encountered the pumpkin craze. But pumpkin spice latte isn’t for everyone. Some people see it as the epitome of the season but there are plenty of other flavors to enjoy this time of year. Here are some of our suggestions for those of you looking to expand your taste beyond pumpkin

Apple

An apple a day keeps the doctor away, but who said it couldn’t be apple tea! This tea makes us especially reminiscent of our childhood of drinking warm apple cider, less thick and heavy. Here’s an Apple Tea that you’ll love and is perfect to cozy up with on a chilly night.

Chai

You can really never go wrong with chai. There are so many variations that you’re bound to find some type you like. Our personal favorite is Bigelow Vanilla Chai. This flavor has the best aroma every time you make it and has the perfect balance of sugar and spice. If you’re going for more of a sweet drink, add some milk, sugar and/or honey and you’re golden!

Gingerbread

Who says it’s too early for holiday flavors? Gingerbread is the perfect essence if you’re looking for something to awaken those taste buds. This gingerbread spice tea, with a blend of cinnamon and ginger, will satisfy any sweet tooth and it’s naturally caffeine free! (Ideal for an after dinner delight)

Vanilla

We love this vanilla black tea! It’s tasty with some milk and sweetener but still lighter than a latte.

Caramel

This new salted caramel tea from Bigelow is to die for and has a combination of sweet and salty! Like vanilla black tea, salted carmel is best with milk and sweetener and paired with a treat.

Maple

Maple tea has the smoothest flavor for those looking to indulge. This particular tea comes in a wooden box, which can be used for decor or preservation!

Cinnamon

Cinnamon tea is just slightly spicier than chai but still has that cozy flavor perfect for fall! This combination of warm and spicy flavors is best enjoyed outdoors by a campfire.

Earl grey

Earl Grey is a classic tea that can really be enjoyed year-round. But what we love the most is the blend of citrus and black tea, especially in the fall. Bigelow makes a great earl grey with amazing bergamot oil from Italy.

Chamomile

This honey vanilla chamomile tea is our all time favorite variation of the herb. The honey vanilla flavor adds sweetness but doesn’t overwhelm the chamomile flavor. At the end of a long fall day, this too is the flavor to cozy up to.

While pumpkin is the obvious popular trend this time of the year, there are plenty more flavors to “fall” in love with! Cozy-up to some of our flavors by fireside or on a brisk walk — we guarantee you’ll enjoy every sip.

Have any additional flavor suggestions of favorite fall teas? Let us know in the comments below!

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