Tea Recipes

Five Unusual Rubs To Add To Your Recipe

December 16, 2021

When deciding how to flavor your meat, what comes to mind? Salt, pepper, certain herbs? Well, we’re here to tell you all about something that probably doesn’t come to mind first: tea! Yes, adding tea to your rubs can add a whole new world of flavors! Tea works well as meat tenderizer because of its tannin content. Black contains most tannin amongst all tea, evident by its dark color. This makes black tea very effective and an all-natural meat tenderizer compared to other products out on the market. These five recipes will explore everything from earl grey to herbal tea. Whether you are grilling out or making a delicious dinner at home, these five rubs are sure to be a hit!

1) Tea-Rubbed Filet Mignon Steaks with Buttery Mushrooms

This recipe from Weber’s Way to Grill™ by Jamie Purviance calls for 2 Earl Grey tea bags to kick off its rub. Earl grey tea leaves mix with black peppercorns, tarragon, salt, and thyme to create a rub that turns into a paste when combined with olive oil. Coat your steaks with the paste for 15 to 30 minutes before grilling, and you’re off to the races.

2 ) Jasmine Tea Rub Ribs

This recipe from The Woks of Life incorporates tea not only in a rub, but also in a mixture for brining. Begin by steeping jasmine tea in hot water with salt and sugar. Add the ribs, squeeze out the air, and store in the refrigerator for three hours. After those three hours have passed, it’s time to season the ribs even more with the rub. This rub combines jasmine tea leaves with pepper, cumin, paprika, salt, and soy sauce. After two hours in the oven, the ribs are ready to be garnished with sesame seeds and cilantro. This recipe may take a while to prepare, but it’s sure to be worth the while.

3) Iced Tea-Infused Rub

Have iced tea mix somewhere in your cabinet? Here’s a general iced tea-based rub recipe from Woman’s Day to pair with your favorite meat, potatoes, or seafood any time of the year. The rub combines iced tea mix with ginger, cinnamon, salt, cloves, and pepper. Tip: make this rub in bulk and store it in an airtight container for up to 3 months for a quick and delicious way to season your meals.

4) Smoked-Tea Rubbed Steak with Mango-Ginger Salsa

This recipe from Oui Chef on Food52 blends a unique array of flavors with its rub and accompanying salsa. The rub blends Lapsang Souchong tea leaves with salt, red pepper flakes, chipotle chili powder, garlic powder, cayenne pepper, and dried chives. Food52 writes, “The Asian flavors in the tea and the piquant Latin American/Mexican spices combine to create a crust on the flank steak that is both succulent and super-spicy.” Sounds good to us!

5) Ming Tsai’s Tea Rubbed Salmon

Salmon gets a tea twist in this recipe from Ming Tsai in his cookbook Simply Ming: Easy Techniques for East-Meets-West Meals. You’ll enjoy a thin layer of crispy flavor thanks to this dish’s five-spice chile tea rub. The rub pairs lapsang souchong tea leaves with salt, red pepper flakes, chipotle chili powder, garlic powder, cayenne pepper, onions, and five-spice powder. Served with lemon-infused rice, this dish packs flavor into every bite.

Tips

As a rule of thumb, green tea is mild and it will pair well with delicate seafood, veggies, and white meat. Use black tea, or a smoky Lapsang souchong, on steak, pork or portobello mushrooms.
If you are going to GRILL your produce, instead of using the tea as a rub, use it in the marinade! With some grills, the fire may char the tea so using as a marinade can prevent that! Concentrate your tea, then add complementary spices to round your marinade before soaking the produce. For example, to include Earl Grey in your marinade, steep 2 Tablespoons of our organic loose leaf Earl Grey in 12oz water for 3-5 minutes. The bergamot flavor of the Earl Grey mixes well with beef and pork. Consider using a floral tea marinade for your chicken dishes.

If you try any of these out, be sure to tag us @theteakitchen on Instagram! Enjoy!

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Tea Recipes

Tea Infused Cocktails to Impress Everyone This Holiday Season

November 23, 2021

What do tea and alcohol have in common? They are both in our cocktails this holiday season! It is now that time of the year where the weather is cooling off, the leaves are changing colors and the holidays are right around the corner. We created a list of the best cocktails for this time of year! Whether you need a holiday drink to serve at a party or just want to mix up holiday cocktails at home, we know that something on our list will cheer every tea lover up. Check out our tea inspired cocktails to wow your friends and family this holiday season!

Autumn Chai-Tea-Ni Martini

Smooth. Creamy. A tad bit of spice. This Chai tea based cocktail is sure to warm you up this season!

Ingredients

1 oz Vodka (preferably Vanilla)
1 oz Light Cream (or milk of choice)
2 oz Chai Tea (chilled)
Additional:
Cinnamon for the rim or top
Whipped cream (optional)

Measure the vodka, light cream, and chai tea mix into a martini shaker with ice. Shake lightly until blended and pour into a Martini glass that has been rimmed with cinnamon. Add some whipped cream or a light dusting of cinnamon on top and enjoy this incredibly delicious drink!

Spiced Pear Burbon Iced Tea

This fall cocktail made with spiced pear, bourbon, and aromatic chai tea is exactly what you need for any fall gathering. We like it over ice, but it would be great hot, too!

Ingredients
Pear Simple Syrup

1 pear sliced
½ cup sugar

Cocktail Mix

12 oz chai tea brewed
5 oz pear simple syrup
4 oz bourbon

In a small pot, bring ½ cup of water, sliced pear and sugar to a boil. Remove from heat and bring to room temperature. Strain out fruit and store in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 1 month.

Combine chai tea, 5 oz simple syrup, and bourbon in a cocktail shaker and shake to combine. Pour over ice split between 2 glasses and enjoy!

Apple Cider Hot Toddy

This apple cider hot toddy recipe is light and warming, perfect for the holidays. The quality of ingredients goes a long way here, so be sure to use real, unfiltered apple cider (it should be murky). Locally produced cider tends to be fresher and contain fewer (if any) additives. Spiced cider is good, too!

Ingredients

1 cup water
1 green tea or black tea
1 ½ ounces rye whiskey or bourbon
1 ounce real apple cider
½ small lemon
Suggested garnishes: thin, round slices of lemon, a cinnamon stick, and star anise

Bring the water to a simmer and carefully pour it over the tea bag into a standard-sized mug, leaving about an inch of room in your mug for the whiskey and cider. Let the tea steep for a few minutes, then discard the bag so the tea doesn’t get bitter.
Pour in the whiskey or bourbon and a hefty splash of apple cider (adjust these amounts to suit your tastes). Squeeze in the juice of half a lemon and garnish with lemon slices, a cinnamon stick and a star anise. Sip up!

Other recipes use a lot more apple cider, which makes them overwhelmingly sweet. This drink isn’t so heavy that it’ll spoil your appetite for mashed potatoes and pumpkin pie. Cheers!

The Harvest Orchard

Vodka, apple brandy, pear juice and chilled black tea are shaken together until well-chilled. Simple syrup is added for sweetness while a flurry of lemon zest on top provides citrusy aromatics. This pear-forward drink is smooth, sweet and can be prepared in bulk for a crowd!

Ingredients

2 ounces vodka
1/2 ounce apple brandy
2 1/2 ounces pear juice
2 1/2 ounces chilled black tea
1 ounce simple syrup

Add vodka, apple brandy, pear juice, black tea and simple syrup to a cocktail shaker with ice. Cap and shake until well-chilled. Strain into 2 copper mugs filled with crushed ice. Top with grated lemon zest.

Chai Apple Cider Slush

This Chai Apple Cider Slushie requires a bit of preparation (frozen cider cubes) so make sure to start this one the night before! For this drink, apple cider is frozen into ice cubes, then blended with apple brandy, ginger beer, lemon juice and cold, spiced chai tea. You can make a lot of apple cider cubes in advance, and then just blend up a big batch once your are ready to serve!

Ingredients

18 ounces apple cider, frozen in ice cube trays
3 ounces vodka
1 ounce apple brandy
4 ounces ginger beer
3 ounces chilled chai tea
1 ounce fresh lemon juice
Cinnamon sticks, to garnish

Combine apple cider cubes, vodka, apple brandy, ginger beer and chai tea in a blender, and blend to a slushie consistency. Pour into short glasses and garnish with cinnamon sticks.

Let us know if you tried any of these cocktails by tagging us and the above creators above or by commenting below! We hope you enjoy them all and have a wonderful holiday season!

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Tea Recipes

5 Matcha and Chocolate Desserts You Need In Your Life

November 23, 2021

We are spilling the (matcha) tea on some delicious treats that you can make at home! If you love drinking green tea, it’s time to add the magic power of matcha to your desserts. Matcha has a bright, slightly bitter taste with notes of sweetness and umami. Matcha is meant to be paired with something sweet so it works beautifully with chocolate. Baking with green tea powder takes dessert to a whole new level, and what goes better with matcha than chocolate? Try any of these green tea chocolate desserts to see what we’re talking about:

1) Chocolate Matcha Butter Cups

Chocolate peanut butter cups will always have a special place in our hearts, but when you’re in the mood for a twist, try this recipe from Keepin’ it Kind. The recipe swaps peanut butter out for a combination of Kiss Me Organics matcha powder, coconut butter, and almond flour. Reports vegan blogger Kristy Turner, “The Kiss Me Organics matcha powder blended beautifully with the coconut butter to form a fudge-like matcha candy filling and the almond flour gave it a subtly nutty flavor. Just out of the fridge, they’re a little firmer than the peanut butter cup you may be accustomed to (though still just as delicious), but if you give it a few minutes to rest, it will be come softer and chewier. The matcha salt sprinkled on top pairs beautifully with the chocolate and is just the perfect finishing touch.” Take her word for it, and get baking stat.

2) Matcha Mint Chip Ice Cream

Because mint ice cream is often green, this is the perfect recipe to get a matcha-phobic friend to finally try your favorite green ingredient–it won’t look foreign, and that’s a start! Try this recipe from pastry chef Alanna Taylor-Tobin’s blog The Bojon Gourmet. Says Taylor-Tobin, “To incorporate the mint, I use a technique I learned during my pastry chef days wherein the mint is blanched, shocked, squeezed, and blended into the base. This delivers maximum color and flavor. Scribbling the chocolate into layers of ice cream results in pleasantly uneven chips that shatter and crunch before melting into chocolatey bliss.” You had us at chocolatey bliss.

3) Matcha Green Tea, Chocolate, and Ricotta Balls

This dessert from Apron and Sneakers is quick and easy to whip up. Bite-sized, they’re perfect to show off your artistic side when plating, and with both ricotta and matcha on the dessert menu, you’re sure to provide interest and variety to guests (or yourself!). Writes the author, “Having a problem with the milky tastes of fresh cheese, I am always cautious about eating ricotta. With these mixtures, I don’t taste anything disagreeably milky, just strong chocolate and green tea flavors.” So to the dairy-cautious, we say go boldly in the direction of this treat!

4) Double Chocolate Matcha Hawaiian Tiramisu

This recipe from Half Baked Harvest remixes the classic Itlalian dessert with chocolate, Kahlua, sweet Hawaiian rolls, and matcha. Fun fact: the author was inspired by her pet goat named Tiramisu to develop this dessert. Bet you haven’t heard that one before. Whether you have a pet named Tiramisu or not, we think you’ll like this busy dessert.

5) Oreo Matcha Cheesecake

These mini matcha cheesecakes are sure to be a crowd pleaser! And the best part? They require no baking! Thats right. No oven! This sounds like a matcha made pair in heaven. This mini no-bake matcha cheesecake pairs a creamy matcha filling with a crunchy oreo cookie crust and whipped cream topping. They go straight into the freezer for an easy treat that you can make even on a weeknight! You could also make these ahead of time as they store in the freezer for up to two months. You can find this delicious recipe here courtesy of Teak and Thyme.

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Tea Recipes

Tea Latte Recipes to Try

September 6, 2021

With fall being just around the corner, it’s a perfect time to consider tea lattes. Tea lattes are the perfect combination of warm and cozy that is necessary for the fall, and they are easy to make from the comfort of your own home. Just like a regular latte, tea lattes are equal parts tea and steamed milk and can have other added flavors for your liking. We rounded up 4 of our favorite tea latte recipes that can be enjoyed at any time of the year.

Matcha Latte

Matcha is a popular form of green tea that has become a trend inspiring drinks, desserts, and more. It is high in antioxidants and has 10x the nutrients of regular green tea, which is why matcha lattes are the perfect drink to get your day going. Here is everything you need to make a perfect matcha latte. The recipe for this tasty drink is simple, but requires certain techniques to make it smooth.

Ingredients:

Matcha Powder
Hot Water
Honey, or another natural sweetener such as agave
Milk

Instructions:

First, we recommend using a matcha whisk. Begin by sifting your matcha powder to avoid clumping. We want your latte to be as smooth and clump-free as possible to make it more enjoyable.
Next, add the matcha to a cup or mug. Pour the hot water over the sifted matcha and whisk using your matcha whisk. The outcome should be a smooth dark green paste.
After the paste is whisked to perfection, heat your milk of choice in a small saucepan and pour into the cup or mug. If you prefer and iced latter, use cold milk.
Use your matcha whisk to thoroughly mix the milk and paste together. This should produce a light green color.
Following this step, you can add honey or a natural sweetener such as agave for your liking. Add a sprinkle of the matcha powder on top for decoration.

Chai Tea Latte

Craving something spicy and don’t feel like spending the money on a chai tea latte from Starbucks? Make your own Chai Tea Latte at home with this easy recipe. Chai tea is a version of black tea that includes chai spices such as cinnamon, cloves, ginger, black pepper, and cardamom. The infusion of spices and a touch of milk creates a perfect creamy combination perfect for a fall day.

Ingredients:

Loose Leaf Chai Tea
Hot water
Your milk of choice (non-fat, almond, etc.). The higher fat your milk is, the creamier texture you will achieve. Starbucks uses 2% milk for their lattes.
Granulated sugar, brown sugar, or another artificial sweetener of your liking
Cinnamon and nutmeg (for garnishing purposes)

Instructions:

First you want to create a chai concentrate using the loose leaf tea and sugar. Brew this mixture and then remove from the heat and allow it to steep for 10 minutes.
After the tea is done steeping, heat your milk of choice over medium-high heat until warm. Once the appropriate temperature is achieved, whisk the milk to create the froth.
Pour the chai tea concentrate over the milk and stir to create your desired mixture. An optional last step is to add Cinnamon and nutmeg on top for garnishing purposes.

Lavender Tea Latte

The hint of floral notes in this tasty tea creates a soothing and sweet taste enjoyable by all. Lavender is an aromatic plant that is used as a popular essential oil, and scent for body products and home fragrances. It is also used to add a floral taste to any drink or dessert. The Lavender tea latte is surprisingly delicious and easy to create.

Ingredients:

Organic Culinary Lavender Flowers
Earl Grey Tea
Hot water
Milk
Agave

Instructions:

Steep the lavender flowers and earl grey tea in hot water for 7-10 minutes.
While the tea is steeping, heat the milk in a small saucepan.
Strain the tea and stir in the agave. After fully stirring the mixture, add in the milk and continue to stir.
Top off the drink with lavender as a pretty garnish and enjoy.

Honey Chamomile Tea Latte

Not only is this latte perfect if you are feeling sick, but it also is a nice way to hit refresh for your body. The combination of the calming effects of Chamomile and the warmth and sweetness create the ultimate mixture.

Ingredients:

Herbal Chamomile Tea
Honey
Hot Water
Ground Cinnamon
Milk of your choosing, we recommend trying coconut milk for this recipe.

Instructions:

Bring your water to a simmer and add the tea. Allow it to steep for 10 minutes while covered.
Heat your milk in a separate container and whisk until frothy.
Add the honey to the tea followed by the milk. Stir until the mixture is completely dissolved.
Serve and enjoy.

No Barista skills are necessary to create these simple lattes. Not only can you try one of these 4 recipes, but you can also transform any of our loose leaf teas into a tea latte by adding milk and a sweetener.

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Tea Recipes

3 Tea Infused Desserts to Try

August 23, 2021

Tea infused desserts are here to stay, so why not try one. Switch up your dessert palate and add tea for an exciting change. Below you’ll find 3 of our favorite tea infused desserts.

Earl Grey Tea Infused Lemon Bars (via The Gingered Whisk)

Take a modern twist on everyone’s favorite summer lemon bar by adding earl grey tea to your recipe. Everyone loves a good lemon bar, so why not add something new to the mix. The sweet tangy taste of lemon combined with the subtle citrus aroma from the earl grey tea creates a perfect custard to accent the crunchy taste of the shortbread. Our earl grey tea is our favorite to use for this recipe as it provides a delicate blend of large leaf black teas and features oil of Bergamot.

All of the ingredients for this simple earl grey infused lemon bar can be found at your local grocery store. First, you’ll start with your shortbread.

Shortbread Ingredients:

1 ¼ cups of flour
1/3 cup of powdered sugar
1/8 tsp of Salt
1 Tsp Loose Leaf Earl Grey tea
8 Tbsp of chilled butter cut into smaller pieces

Instructions:

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit.
Combine together the flour, sugar, and 1 tsp of tea leaves until they are fully combined and then add salt for a bit of a flavored accent.
Press the butter squares into your baking pan and add the ingredients on top of the butter.
Let it bake for 19 minutes or until lightly browned.

Custard Ingredients:

¼ cup of fresh lemon juice
1 Tsp of Loose-Leaf Earl Grey tea
2 Tbsp of flour
1 cup of sugar
½ tsp of baking powder
2 tsp of lemon zest
3 eggs
1 Tbsp of powdered sugar

Instructions:

Microwave the lemon juice on high for 30 seconds in a medium microwavable bowl.
Add 1 tsp of loose-leaf earl grey tea to the heated lemon juice and let the combination steep for 10 minutes.
Whisk together sugar, flour, and baking powder in another bowl.
Add the eggs, lemon zest, and sugar to the heated lemon juice combination after the 10 minutes are over and mix until combined.
Combine the juice mixture with the sugar mixture and whisk until fully combined.
Pour the filling onto the hot shortbread and bake for 23 minutes or until set.
Allow the lemon bars to cool for 30 minutes. Once the 30 minutes is over, dust the bars with powdered sugar and enjoy your tasty treat.

Matcha White Chocolate Cookies (via Just One Cookbook)

Not only is Matcha high in antioxidants, like many other green teas, and boosts your immune system, but it can also be a tasty addition to any dessert. Hop on the matcha dessert trend and test these Matcha White Chocolate Cookies. These buttery and crispy texture of these cookies are perfect to enjoy with your afternoon cup of tea. Although Matcha is not apart of our online collection of teas, there are plenty of other green teas to check out to include in other recipes.

Ingredients:

2 cups of all-purpose flour
2 ½ Tbsp of matcha green tea powder
¾ cup of unsalted butter
1 cup of powdered sugar
Sea salt
2 large egg yolks
¼ cup of white chocolate chips

Instructions:

Whisk together the flour and matcha green tea powder in a large mixing bowl.
Sift the combination to ensure there are no chunks.
Add the unsalted butter to this combination and blend it together until you reach a smooth and creamy consistency.
Add a pinch of sea salt and continue blending.
In a separate bowl, add the powdered sugar and egg yolks and mix until well combined.
Combine these two mixtures for a thick, doughy consistency.
Add the white chocolate chips and mix until dispersed in the combination.
Take the doughy combination out of the bowl and roll it into a ball. Cut the ball in half and roll into 2 cylinders.
Wrap the cylinders in plastic wrap and chill in the refrigerator until firm. This should take around 2 hours.
Preheat your oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit
Cut the cylinders into 1/3 inches thick rounds and place them on your baking sheet.
Bake the cookies for 15 minutes or until the edges are slightly browned. Let them cool for 5 minutes and then enjoy them with a cup of your favorite tea.

Chai Tea Scones (via Honest & Truly)

Fall is just around the corner, and chai tea is always a fall favorite. Enjoy a chai tea scone to remind you of the festive and flavorful tastes of fall.

Ingredients:

½ cup of milk
2 bags of chai tea
10 Tbsp of butter
2 cups of flour
1 ½ cups of oats
1/3 cups of sugar
1 Tbsp of baking soda
1 Tsp of cinnamon
¼ Tsp of cardamom
½ Tsp of ginger
½ Tsp of salt
1 egg
½ cups of powdered sugar

Instructions:

Preheat your oven to 425 degrees Fahrenheit
Heat your milk and two bags of chai tea in a small saucepan. Let this simmer for 6 minutes.
Combine the flour, sugar, oatmeal, baking powder, cinnamon, cardamom, ginger, and salt in a mixing bowl and mix until fully combined.
Remove the tea bags from the heated milk and squeeze to get out all of the rich flavor.
In a separate bowl, add milk, an egg, and the heated butter and mix together.
Combine the two mixtures.
Once a doughy consistency is achieved, place the dough on a rolling pan and roll it out.
Cut the dough into your desired shape and bake for 10-13 minutes, or until golden around the edges.
For a yummy drizzle, combine powdered sugar, the remaining chai infused milk and stir.
Allow the cooked scones to cool for 3-5 minutes and then drizzle on top of your cooked scones and you are ready to enjoy this fall flavored scone.

Adding tea to dessert can be a fun twist for any recipe. We hope these tea-infused desserts please all of our sweet-tooth readers. Take your tea-time to the next level and try one of these tasty desserts today. Our vast collection of loose leaf tea gives you room to experiment with your own tea-infused dessert.

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Tea Recipes

5 Refreshing Iced Tea Recipes for Summer

July 2, 2021

Nothing is better than a tall glass of iced tea to kick off your summer days. Whether you are drinking it for the refreshing, cool taste on a summer afternoon, or you need the caffeine and want something lighter than a latte; iced tea has the answer to all of your summer needs.

We sifted through and found 5 refreshing iced tea recipes for you to try out this Summer.

Summertime Orange Tango Tea

First on our list is the Summertime Orange Tango Tea. This tangy summer tea will leave you begging for more! Drink it as it is or add tequila for a delightful summer cocktail.

What you’ll need:

Water
Black Iced Tea Bags (Try our Assam Black Tea for a basic black tea!)
Sugar
Orange Juice Concentrate
Lemonade Concentrate
Tequila (optional)
Fresh lemon slices and mint leaves (optional)

Directions:

1. Bring your water to a boil, turn off the heat, and add your tea bags. Allow this to steep for 3-5minutes, then remove the tea bags.

2. Stir in the sugar, orange juice concentrate, lemonade, and add more water!

3. Refrigerate until chilled.

4. Add tequila (if desired) and garnish with lemon slices and mint leaves(optional).

Blackberry Mint Iced Tea

Our next summer favorite is the Blackberry Mint Iced Tea. This combination of a sweet berry with refreshing mint makes for the perfect drink on a Hot Summer Day! Kick back and relax with this iced tea while getting your daily dose of antioxidants.

What you’ll need:

½ cup of Fresh Blackberries
6 leaves of Fresh Mint
1 bags of Green Iced Tea (Try our Young Hyson Green Tea for a delicately sweet green tea)
3 cups of Hot Water
Raw Honey (optional)

Directions:

Start with adding fresh blackberries, fresh mint leaves, and tea bags to your container.
Second, pour hot water over the ingredients. Allow this to steep for 15 minutes.
Finally, you will remove the tea bags from the mixture and place your container in the fridge. Allow it to chill for 3-4 hours to get the maximum amount of flavor!

Homemade Southern Sweet Tea

Next on our list is famous in the South and is perfect for any BBQ… Homemade Southern Sweet Tea (and NOT the kind you try at McDonalds). Nothing beats the sweet, smooth, and tasty tang of Southern Sweet Tea! It’s important to remember that you should be using tea that is specially made to make iced tea, NOT any old bag of tea in your pantry.

Another key tip for making the best Southern Sweet Tea is to brew It yourself! Your tea should steep for 15 minutes while brewing.

What you’ll need:

Water and Tea Bags for Brewing (We recommend our Assam Black Tea for this iced tea!)
Sugar
Ice
Baking Soda (optional)

Directions:

The first step is to boil 1 quart of water over medium heat
Next you will turn the heat off and place your tea bags into the water. Allow this to steep for 15minutes.
Remove the tea bags and press them against the side of the saucepan to get the maximum amount of tea out of them as possible!
Afterwards, pour your sugar into the pitcher and pour half of the amount of tea over the sugar.
Stir until the sugar is dissolved
Add the remaining tea.
Finally, stir in baking soda. This step is optional but, is recommended to leave your tea in top condition if you are planning to keep it in your fridge for a while! You are free to either serve it right away or refrigerate and wait for it to cool down.

Matcha Mint Iced Refresher

Our fourth iced tea is the Matcha Mint Iced Refresher! This drink is refreshingly simple to make and perfect for summer sipping. Matcha is known for being high in antioxidants and boosting your energy levels and metabolism, so why not add it to your Summer list?

What you’ll need:

Water
Cooking Grade Matcha
Fresh Lime
Fresh Mint Leaves
Ice
Agave (or your favorite sweetener as an optional addition)

Directions:

First you will need a container to shake the mixture in. We recommend using a cocktail shaker, but any container with a trusty lid can work too!
Add your ice to the container and squeeze the lime over the ice.
Mix in your water and matcha, and be sure to mix until there are no more lumps of your matcha powder.
Add in your mint leaves and continue to shake the mixture in your container!
The last optional step is to add your agave or other sweetener and you are ready to serve!

The Arnold Palmer

Last, but definitely not least, the Arnold Palmer. This legendary drink combines iced tea and lemonade for a delightfully sweet taste. The Arnold Palmer was created one hot summer day in 1960 when Arnold himself asked his wife to prepare him this drink at the Latrobe Country Club, thus coining its’ name after its’ creator— American professional golfer, Arnold Palmer. The key to making an Arnold Palmer is all in the ingredients. Tea is the backbone of this iconic combination which is why the quality of tea you choose matters!

What you’ll need: Consider using homemade lemonade and iced tea for quality taste!

Lemonade
Fresh Lemon
Unsweetened Iced Tea (Try our Assam Black Tea for this recipe!)
Ice
Mint Sprig Garnish (optional)

Directions:

First you are going to fill your glass ¾ of the way full with iced tea, make sure to use tea bags that are specifically for iced tea.
Next you are going to fill the remaining ¼ with lemonade.
Finally, add ice and mint sprig garnish (optional) and you are all set for a Summer afternoon!

Now, what are you waiting for? Get to Summer sipping with these 5 amazing iced tea recipes.

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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 Recipes

Bake Me, I’m Irish: 5 Tea-Infused Treats for St. Patrick’s Day

February 26, 2018

St. Patrick’s Day is coming up on Saturday, March 17. In addition to wearing green and waving the Irish flag, try baking one of these tea-infused Irish treats to get in the mood for this festive holiday. Tea is hugely important to Irish culture, with black Irish teas filling many a cuppa in the country. Take one of these recipes for a whirl and prepare to be delighted this St. Patrick’s Day:

1) Earl Grey and Currant Scones with Vanilla Bean Glaze

This recipe from Bake From Scratch uses loose-leaf earl grey tea in the scone batter for a winning dose of bitterness. Currents provide fruity texture in each scone, while a vanilla bean glaze tops each one for an extra serving of sweetness.

2) Irish Soda Bread with Tea-Infused Raisins

This recipe from Anson Mills adds a cool twist on classic Irish soda bread: black tea-infused raisins. For centuries, soda bread has been a staple for the Irish everyman. This recipe updates it slightly, with the authors describing it as “a fine, moist, rugged country bread.” They elaborate: “Deep nuttiness, faint fruit, and a satisfying array of toasted whole bran and chisel flavors emerge from handmade whole grain rustic graham flour, while pastry flour lightens the bread’s texture and flavors the crumb with a faux butteriness.” The tea-infused raisins add welcome flavor and texture. Eat plain, or top with butter for a delicious, traditional snack!

3) Double Chocolate Irish Tea-Infused Oat Muffins

This recipe from Half Baked Harvest is a great way to bring Ireland’s fame for oats into the dessert space. Begin by steeping 2 black tea bags in coconut milk. Combine the tea-infused coconut milk with wet ingredients eggs, vanilla, maple syrup, and oil. Then mix with dry ingredients: steel cut oats, oat flour, rye flour, cocoa powder, baking powder, baking soda, and salt. Fold in chopped dark chocolate, and then bake. Drizzle with honey and serve with butter for two yummy finishing touches.

4) Gur Cake

Gur cake is a traditional Irish dessert associated with Dublin. It’s a treat that features a thick layer of filling in between two thin layers of pastry crust. Stale bread is soaked in tea to make the pastry. The cake gets its name from the term gurrier, used to describe poor children to whom a bakery’s leftovers would be given. These gurriers would transform stale bread into a sweet treat: gur cake. This recipe from Wholesome Ireland offers one classic gur cake recipe. Perfect for frugal bakers!

5) Tea Shortbread Coins

Shortbread is as classic as it gets when it comes to Irish desserts. Here, Thirsty For Tea blogger Bonnie Eng offers three different shortbread recipes, each made with a different type of tea: Earl Grey, Matcha, or Irish Breakfast. For the Irish Breakfast tea variation, Eng blends Irish tea with cinnamon, cardamom, ginger, cloves, black pepper, and nutmeg for a Masala Chai Shortbread. On the variations, Eng says, “While Earl Grey Shortbread is fragrant and full of vanilla goodness, the matcha version is bittersweet and earthy. Masala Chai Shortbread is a yummy choice when you’re craving a touch of warm spice. And of course, you can’t go wrong with dipping or drizzling any of these with chocolate! Rich and buttery, these shortbread cookies make a great hostess gift for your St. Patrick’s Day party host, or a great way to celebrate Ireland all on your own.

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Tea Recipes

7 Tea-Spiked Chocolate Desserts for Valentine’s Day

February 12, 2018

Roses, hearts, and chocolate are the three pillars of Valentine’s Day planning. This year, bake your valentine a unique kind of chocolate dessert—a tea-infused chocolate dessert. In brownies, cookies, cupcakes, and tarts, tea and chocolate are a perfect pair, just like you and your valentine. Sweeten your night this February 14th with one of these recipes:

1) Earl Grey Chocolate Pots de Crème

These pots de crème from Gourmande are gluten-free, grain-free, dairy-free, and downright delicious. Described as “super silky” and “dark and complex,” the author promises that “each spoonful is plush and velvety like the center of a good chocolate truffle.” Prep time is 20 minutes, and cook time is 25 minutes, making these treats an easy-to-make choice for your Valentine’s Day dessert.

2) Vegan Strawberry Matcha Brownie Tarts with Coconut Whipped Cream

These tarts from The Baking Spoon are adorable, and incorporate two Valentine’s Day must-haves: strawberries and whipped cream. A brownie shell is filled with matcha cream filling and topped with coconut whipped cream and a strawberry garnish for a bite-sized, picture-perfect dessert that will delight and impress your date. As a bonus, the recipe is vegan, and uses healthy substitutes like carob powder, maple syrup, and cashews for unnatural sweeteners.

3) Double Chocolate Irish Tea Infused Oat Muffins

Present your valentine with a basket of these muffins from Half Baked Harvest to score major points this year. The recipe calls for 2 black tea bags, maple syrup, steel cut oats, and dark chocolate, among other ingredients. Prep and cook time combined equals about 30 minutes, and yields 18 muffins. Since they’re muffins, you can also eat these chocolate desserts for breakfast!

4) Chocolate Dipped Tea Infused Shortbread Cookies

These cookies from Dish It Girl require just a few ingredients to pack a sweet punch. The author used Puerh Indulgence Good Earth Tea to spice up shortbread, grinding the tea leaves into a fine powder in the food processor before combining them with the cookie batter. Dipped in fudgy chocolate, these tea-infused shortbread cookies are great with a hot cuppa and a serving of fruit.

5) Green Tea Filled Oreo Cookies

These cookies from The Chocolate Bottle have a cakey texture, thanks to the use of Devil’s Food Cake mix. Green tea, cream cheese, and sugar combine forces to make a sweet, tea-infused filling. Dip each cookie sandwich in chocolate for an extra dose of chocolate!

6) Chocolate Cake with Tea-Infused Berry Frosting

This beautiful cake recipe from Beginning with Bergamot is perfect if you and your better half have big appetites. Treat yourselves to a generous slice (or two) on Valentine’s Day, and then share it the rest of the week to make Valentine’s Day last a little longer this year. This recipe’s tea-infused berry frosting makes this chocolate cake standout, and the strawberries and raspberries that top it make for a picture-worthy dessert hour.

7) Earl Grey Chocolate Tart

This tart recipe from Pemberley Cup and Cakes uses two tea bags’ worth of Earl Grey tea to spice up the chocolate ganache filling. Paired with a sweet tart crust, this dessert will satisfy any sweet tooth this Valentine’s Day.

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Tea Recipes

7 Hot Tea Recipes For Fall

December 12, 2017

Fall has arrived. As we trade in sandals and swimsuits for sweaters and boots, it’s also time to trade in iced tea for hot tea. Because what’s better on a chilly fall day than a hot cuppa? Nothing, that’s what. While you may miss summer and its plethora of sweet and satisfying iced teas, take comfort in that fact that now you can sip on warm, flavorful hot teas while snuggling under blankets by the fire. Welcome fall with these hot tea recipes that are sure to warm you up and go down easy:

1) Autumn Spiced Apple Tea

This recipe from Mostly Homemade Mom screams fall—autumn is in the title, after all. Like drinking a slice of apple pie, this tea combines tea with cloves, cinnamon sticks, apple juice, and real apple slices for a fruity, spicy, delectable dose of fall drinking.

2) Hot Spiced Green Tea Recipe

This recipe from Taste of Home spices up a green tea base with cinnamon sticks, ginger, cardamom, lemon, and honey. Hot, spicy, and the perfect way to complement a chilly day!

3) Tea-Infused Hot Chocolate

This vegan recipe from Namely Marley brings together two of the best beverages on the block: tea and hot chocolate. This recipe usesa Coconut Cocoa Tea Bag from Republic of Tea and soymilk, but you can improvise with your own preferences. Enjoy as a sweet snack or dessert to wind down your busy day.

4) Slow Cooker Chai Tea

You probably use your slow cooker for hearty dinners, but you can also use it to make a delicious cuppa. This recipe from Taste of Home uses a slow cooker to make chai tea. Start by slow-cooking a mixture of gingerroot, cinnamon sticks, cloves, cardamom pods, and whole peppercorns on low for 8 hours. Then add black tea bags, steep for 3 to 5 minutes, and serve warm. You’ll enjoy the sweet and spicy fragrances that waft through the air as much as the sweet and spicy tastes that will go down your throat.

5) Genmaicha

For a substantial take on tea that borders on soup, try a cup of genmaicha, aka rice tea. This Japanese specialty combines brown rice and green tea for a more filling cuppa. Some refer to it as popcorn tea since the rice is toasted/popped. Try this recipe from Tasty Kitchen and prepare for things to get poppin’.

6) Spiced Apricot Tea

Apricot nectar gives this recipe from Taste of Home its fruity flavor. Combined with cinnamon sticks, cloves, sugar, lemon juice, and tea, each sip of this beverage is packed with hot, satisfying flavor. Enjoy with a muffin or slice of bread for the ultimate snack break.

7) Russian Tea

This recipe from Wives With Knives became popular in the US in the 1960s, thanks to its use of then-all-the-rage Tang. The sweet, hot drink mixes tea, Tang, sugar, lemonade, cinnamon, and ground cloves.

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