Sugar and honey are great ingredients to add to tea, but they are all too common. I provided six unique ingredients (with some honorable mentions) to add to your next cup of tea.
Tea is great to drink on its own. But, adding ingredients to tea can boost its flavor, nutrition, and provide numerous health benefits. For instance, adding lemon and honey to tea is an old remedy for helping to cure a sore throat. I left out the common sweeteners to the list that include sugar and honey because they are all to common.
To start, Ialways prefer brewing loose-leaf tea varieties however, tea bags can also be used. Add any additives just before or after pouring the hot water to your cup. But, remember the longer these ingredients are steeped, the more flavor they provide. Here are a few more interesting things to add to tea.
Lemon/Lemon Zest
A slice of lemon is common to add to tea however, I also included lemon zest as a unique alternative. The zest of a lemon or any citrus fruit is usually the outmost layer of the peel. The flavor may be strong so use sparingly. I use a zester to scrap the lemon zest from the peel. However, be sure to avoid the pith, or the white part of the lemon, since it can be bitter.
Lemon goes good with: Sencha Green Tea, Ceylon Black Tea, chamomile
Orange Slice/Orange Peal
If lemon is too tart, try adding an orange slice to tea instead. Orange provides a sweeter taste then lemon and is a great alternative to add to tea. Other fruits in the citrus family such as mandarin and tangerine will also do. For instance, tangerine tuxido is made by hallowing out a tangerine, filling it with black tea, and drying both out at once. This infuses the black tea with a sweet hint of tangerine. I wouldn’t suggest making a tangerine tuxido at home but look out for it in specialty tea shops.
Orange goes good with: Ceylon Black Tea, Rooibus, white tea
Ginger
Fresh ginger provides the most bold flavor. It can be cut from the main root in small cubes and directly added to tea. Other alternatives to fresh ginger is dried ginger and candied ginger that provide a milder taste.
Ginger goes good with: lemongrass, Green Rooibos
Fresh Mint
Adding dried mint to the tea is a great option, fresh mint also provides a lot of flavor. I pick the mint from my garden, wash it well and directly add it to the tea before steeping. The longer the tea steeps with the mint the more flavor it will have.
Mint goes good with:, chamomile, lemon balm
Milk
Dairy, almond, coconut, or oat milk can all be added to tea. Adding milk provides a smoother taste to an astringent tea. Black tea and Chai tea fall under the astringent category. Adding milk to these teas balances out their flavor.
Milk goes good with: Chai Tea, Earl Gray, English/Irish Breakfast tea
Other Herbs or Tea
Another great way to add flavor to tea is with another herbal tea by creating a blend. For instance, adding lemon balm to chamomile provides a well rounded flavor. Blending tea is easier when both are loose-leaf. Other teas that can be blended include: peppermint; chamomile; lavender; lemon balm; and lemongrass.
Other Unique Ingredients to Add to Tea:
Dried edible flowers, citrus, cinnamon, maple syrup, alcohol