Tea is the ultimate beverage — with a variety of flavors, blends and temperature options, there’s bound to be a brew for everyone. But don’t let tradition restrict your tea-enjoying experience. Here are a few recipes to help you spruce up your cuppa.
Earl Grey Oatmeal
Ingredients
- 1 cup boiling water
- 2 earl grey tea bags
- ½ cup rolled oats
- 1 tablespoon chia seeds
- 1 tablespoon hemp seeds
- 1 chopped fresh apricot or ¼ cup chopped dried apricots
- ⅛ cup pomegranate seeds
- 1 tablespoon maple syrup
Prepare tea by steeping tea bags in boiling water for the recommended time. In a medium saucepan, pour in tea, rolled oats and chia seeds. Cook over medium-high heat until all the water is absorbed. Pour into a separate bowl, and add the remaining ingredients, or tailor the recipe to include toppings to your preferences.
Matcha Green Pancakes
Ingredients
- 2 cups Bisquick mix, or another pre-made pancake mix
- 1 ½ cups almond milk
- ¼ cup packed spinach
- 2 tablespoons matcha green tea powder
Begin by pouring the almond milk, spinach and matcha powder into a blender, and blend until smooth. If you don’t have a blender, you can omit the spinach and thoroughly mix the matcha into the almond milk. Add to a medium bowl with the pancake mix, and stir until all the lumps have disappeared. Pour a scant ¼ cup of batter onto a griddle over medium heat. When bubbles form around the edges, flip. Continue cooking until lightly browned. Serve with sliced strawberries, blueberries and maple syrup.
Chai Milkshake
Ingredients:
- 1 cup boiling water
- 3 chai tea bags
- 2 frozen bananas
- 3 dates
- 1 cup almond milk
- A dash of cinnamon
Prepare tea by steeping tea bags in boiling water and waiting for the recommended time, adding two minutes. Remove tea bags, and allow for the tea to cool to room temperature. Alternately, place the tea in the freezer for about 15-30 minutes to speed up the process. Add the cooled tea and remaining ingredients into a blender and blend until smooth. It may help to soak the dates in the almond milk while you are waiting for the tea the cool, as it may make it easier to blend.
Raspberry Black Tea Chia Jam
Ingredients
- ½ cup boiling water
- 3 black tea bags
- 2 cups raspberries
- 3 tablespoons chia seeds
- 1 teaspoon almond extract
- 2 tablespoons maple syrup (optional)
Prepare tea by steeping tea bags in boiling water for the recommended time. In a medium saucepan, cook and mash raspberries until somewhat smooth. Add in black tea, stir, then add in the chia seeds, mixing quickly so that they do not clump together. Remove from heat, and stir in almond extract and maple syrup if you prefer your jam to be a bit sweeter. Wait approximately 30 minutes to an hour for the chia seeds to absorb the liquid. Spread over toast or a scone.
