Homemade Tea Blends!
Ellen’s Holiday Tea Blend Recipe:
**(Recipe found in "Tea Travels -For the Holidays by Ellen Easton ©20105 – All Rights Reserved )
Prep Time: 20 minutes
Yield: makes 20 cups of tea
Ingredients:
2 ounces Darjeeling black tea
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1 teaspoon ground cardamom
1/2 teaspoon ground cloves
1/4 cup currants/raisins
1/4 teaspoon ground ginger
1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg
2 tablespoons orange zest (rind), grated**
1 teaspoon vanilla powder or pure vanilla extract
**(1 orange = 2 tablespoons grated zest.)
Instructions:
Making the Tea:
**Tea Enhancers: Sugar, Honey, Candied Ginger, or Orange Rind.
**(Recipe found in "Tea Travels -For the Holidays by Ellen Easton ©20105 – All Rights Reserved )
Prep Time: 20 minutes
Yield: makes 20 cups of tea
Ingredients:
2 ounces Darjeeling black tea
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1 teaspoon ground cardamom
1/2 teaspoon ground cloves
1/4 cup currants/raisins
1/4 teaspoon ground ginger
1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg
2 tablespoons orange zest (rind), grated**
1 teaspoon vanilla powder or pure vanilla extract
**(1 orange = 2 tablespoons grated zest.)
Instructions:
- Place Darjeeling tea, cinnamon, cardamom, cloves, currants/raisins, ginger, nutmeg, orange zest, and vanilla powder in a bowl and mix together. NOTE: If using vanilla extract blend well through dry ingredients, allowing the entire mixture to dry. Making Tea:
Making the Tea:
- For infuser, use one teaspoon of blended tea mixture per each 6-ounce cup of tea or 1 full heaping tablespoon per 4-6 cup tea pot.
- For Tea bags, use one teaspoon of tea mixer per tea bag may be used . One prepared tea bag containing leaf tea will brew 2 to 3 cups of tea.
- Preheat a teapot or “hot the pot” by rinsing it out with hot water.
- By insulating the teapot, it keeps the tea hot during the brewing process.
- Bring the fresh cold water to a full rolling boil.
- Remove from the heat quickly as to not allow the oxygen to escape from the water. ( Water that has been reheated gives tea a flat taste.)
- Only boiling water can extract the full flavor and benefit from the leaves. Use one teaspoonful of tea mixture or one tea bag per cup (6 ounces) of water.
- Pour boiling water over the tea. Let steep for 7 to 10 minutes.
- Do not judge the strength of your tea by its color. It takes time for the leaves to unfold and release their flavor.
- If you prefer your tea less strong, add hot water after the brewing period.
- Always store in an air free container.
- If Chai is desired add warmed milk to taste.
**Tea Enhancers: Sugar, Honey, Candied Ginger, or Orange Rind.