Using tea as an ingredient in cooking and baking is still a new idea for many people. You may be hesitant to try an entrée that includes tea as an ingredient—what if you don’t like it? Dinner’s ruined! But appetizers provide an easy point of entry for both curious chefs and consumers. Try these tea-infused appetizer recipes at home by yourself to see if you like cooking with tea, or if you know you already do, try serving a tea-infused appetizer to party guests who are up for a new food experience. These 7 recipes are a great place to start your tea cooking adventure:
1) Jasmine Green Tea Chicken Wings
These chicken wings from Bigelow simmer in a combination of shallots, celery, carrots, salt, pepper, and jasmine green tea for a unique take on the classic appetizer. Prepare them to class up any Super Bowl Party or chill out the parents at any PTA Luncheon.
2) Chamomile Hummus
Take your dip to the next level with this chamomile tea-infused hummus recipe from Arbor Teas. Chamomile tea joins chickpeas, tahini, garlic, cumin, olive oil, and lemon juice to give this hummus a varied flavor palate. Try it with pita chips or vegetables at your next gathering.
3) Green Tea-Infused Vegetable Quiches
These miniature quiches from Bigelow have a bitter infusion thanks to Bigelow’s Classic Green Tea and would make a great addition to any cocktail party. Good things come in small packages…
4) Thai Tea Cream Biscuits
There’s nothing quite like a buttery biscuit to pre-empt a meal. This time, try serving these Thai Tea and mango-infused biscuits from Arbor Teas. Says baker Olivia May, “Since it’s a mix of black tea, vanilla bean, cardamom and anise seeds, when used dry, the spices in the Thai tea toast in the oven during baking, elevating their flavor quite favorably.” Shredded coconut, green curry paste, and mango round out the lineup for this most flavorful of biscuits.
5) Tea-Poached Pears with Goat Cheese & Puff Pastry
Poached pairs get a dose of black tea in this elegant appetizer from Savvy Eats. Black tea, sugar, vanilla bean, and water combine to make a poaching liquid for the fruit. This poaching liquid is reduced and used again later as a drizzle over pears served on puff pastry with goat cheese. If you crave extra spice, try adding cinnamon or chai to your tea.
6) Smoky Lapsang Souchong Spring Rolls
Spring rolls get a tea-riffic makeover with the addition of lapsang souchong tea in this recipe from Arbor Teas. Says recipe developer Olivia May, “Lapsang Souchong has a heady campfire aroma and provides an easy way to impart a wonderful smoked flavor to foods without having to go through all the hassle of actually firing up the smoker yourself. Here I use it to season a sauté of shiitake mushrooms and a bit of pulled pork packaged neatly in a spring roll wrapper.” For extra credit, serve with a black tea-flavored plum and vanilla jam.
7) Matcha & Goat Cheese Crostini
Matcha is the magic ingredient for these crostini from Teatulia. Goat cheese and matcha come together with honey and orange aboard crunchy slices of baguette for a satisfying flavor profile and mix of textures in every bite. A colorful display, this appetizer is sure to kick any party off in a bright mood.
