Different recipes for your favorite tea

Vaishali Agrawal |

In most of the people’s life, tea is the first thing that they want to have in the morning to awaken their senses and to feel rejuvenated. Some like it in the form of ‘bed tea’, some as a part of their breakfast or some sip on to their favorite beverage as soon as they reach their office. Whatever the case is, for the majority of people in different parts of the world, tea remains one of the most trusted and loved beverage to have a good morning.

Tea, available in varied flavors and types, has been known for its amazing benefits. Every type of tea blesses you with the natural benefits that can make you more healthy and beautiful. It’s also been noticed that the people who take tea are more cheerful and focused in their lives. So, the next time you drink that steaming hot or delicious iced tea, remember that you are consuming not just an ordinary beverage, but a wondrous concoction of miracles.

While there are people with different eating habits and taste preferences, thus, the process of preparing tea is dissimilar from one another. Following are some of the recipes to prepare your same old tea in some of the distinct ways:

Simple Chai or Indian Style Tea

Ingredients for two cups of tea:

  • 1½ cup water
  • 2 tsp sugar or according to your taste
  • ¾ tsp tea leaves
  • ¾ cup of milk

Method:

  • In a saucepan, add water and simmer it for 1-2 minutes.
  • Add sugar and again put it to simmer for 1-2 minutes.
  • Always remember to add tea leaves at the stage when the water starts boiling.
  • Simmer for 3-4 minutes and then add milk.
  • Allow it to cook for 5-6 minutes as it will make the tea creamier.
  • Strain through a fine tea strainer into the choice of your kettle or tea cups.
  • Enjoy your steaming cup of simple, but aromatic with fritters or cookies.

Mango Iced Tea

Ingredients: (1 cup=250 ml)

  • 2 medium sized Alphonso mangoes, which yields 1.5 cups pulp approximately
  • 3 tsp black tea or 2-3 tea bags of black tea
  • 4 cups water (1 cup=250 ml)
  • ¾ tbsp lemon juice
  • Unrefined cane sugar as required
  • A few mint leaves for garnishing

Method:

  • Peel and chop the mangoes, puree them in a blender and refrigerate.
  • Boil water on a stove top and remove it from the flame once it’s done.
  • Add black tea to this hot water and stir.
  • Cover and keep aside for 5-7 minutes to allow the tea to steep.
  • Strain and keep it in the fridge to cool it down.
  • Once it is cooled, remove from the fridge and put it in a blender.
  • Now, add mango puree, lemon juice, and sugar to the tea.
  • Blend everything till smooth.
  • Serve Mango Iced Tea with ice cubes and garnished with mint leaves.

Ginger Tea:

Ingredients:

  • 4 cups of water (1 cup=250 ml)
  • 3-4 tsp black tea leaves
  • 1-2 inch ginger as per taste
  • 3-4 cardamoms
  • 1 cup milk
  • Sugar as per taste

Method:

  • Peel and crush or grate the ginger slice and keep aside.
  • Crush whole cardamoms and keep it for later use.
  • Take a saucepan or kettle and add water, ginger and crushed cardamom.
  • Boil it for 6-7 minutes, till the water turns to be of mild yellowish hue.
  • Now, add sugar and let it simmer for 2-3 minutes more.
  • Add tea leaves now and simmer for about 2-3 minutes more.
  • The water will now be deep red in color.
  • Simmer according to your preference whether you like your tea to be strong or light.
  • Add milk and further boil for 3-4 minutes. It will help you get thicker and creamier tea.
  • Strain the tea using a strainer right into the cups or into the serving kettle.
  • Enjoy your cup of hot tea with fritters, cookies or cake.

Green Tea

Ingredients:

  • Green tea leaves: Take 1 tsp for 1 cup of green tea
  • Water

Method:

  • Follow the ratio of ‘one tsp of tea leaves for one cup of green tea’ and take the portions accordingly.
  • Now, put these tea leaves in a strainer/sieve.
  • Take a saucepan, and put an adequate amount of water in it on the stove.
  • Make sure that the water should be near to the boiling point but not boiling. Anyhow, if it starts boiling, just switch off the heat and let it cool down a bit.
  • Now, take a cup and put the sieve/strainer over it.
  • Now, pour hot water into the cup and let the tea steep for not more than 3 minutes (1 minute for most Japanese green teas).
  • While the tea steeps, taste a half spoon of tea after every 30 seconds to find out if the flavor is just right.
  • Remove the sieve/strainer, once you find that the taste is just right.
  • If you want, you can add some honey (1 teaspoon).
  • Stir the honey and allow the drink to cool down for a few seconds and enjoy your cup of soothing green tea.

>Hibiscus Tea:

Ingredients:

  • Red hibiscus flowers (organic and pesticide-free): One for each glass
  • Sugar: As per taste
  • Lemon or lime juice

  • Boiling water
  • Ice

Method:

  • Remove the stamen from Hibiscus flowers. (If you can’t find fresh hibiscus flowers, then you can use organic dried hibiscus tea).
  • Place one hibiscus flower in a glass or mug and cover it with hot boiling water.
  • Allow it to steep for some time.
  • Stir and then remove the flower.
  • Now, add sugar according to your taste and stir to dissolve.
  • Add some drops of lemon juice into the glass and keep aside to cool.
  • Add ice and serve cold and refreshing Hibiscus tea with the snacks of your choice.

So, while here are the recipes for some of the different types of teas that you can make, but still there are hundreds of styles and methods to explore. Be a little experimental and curious to try your hands on preparing different versions of tea hot or cold!

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