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Tea blending is a fun craft that any tea drinker can learn with a simple guide. So, how do you make your own tea blends?
What Is Tea Blending?
In the tea industry, tea makers blend various ingredients (to include teas) to create unique teas that we come to love and enjoy. Artisan blenders take things a step further and create tea blends that are proprietary to a tea brand or tea shop or for individuals.
Some online tea retailers even provide the option for their customers to create a blend based on several choices of teas, herbs, and infusions. You can get as wild and funky as you want by creating tea blends. However, the flavor is the end goal in any blend creation.
Popular Tea Blends
Let’s look at some of the most common tea blends on the market that we may already be familiar with. By breaking down the ingredients, you can see what goes into the blend.
- Earl Grey (Ceylon or Assam tea, bergamot oil, orange peel, cornflowers)
- Chai (Assam tea, cinnamon, cardamom, cloves, star anise)
- Marrakesh Mint (Gunpowder tea, mint leaves)
- English Breakfast (Assam tea, Kenyan tea, Ceylon tea)
There’s a formula for every tea blend. The use of true teas (black, green, oolong, yellow, or white,) spices, herbs, fruits, and flavorings can include a multitude of formulas to create a specific blend. The sky’s the limit in how creative a blend can get.
Some tea blending formula examples:
- True Tea + Another True Tea (English Breakfast)
- True Tea + Another True Tea + Spice (Chai)
- True Tea + Fruit + Herbs + Flavoring (Earl Grey)
- Herbs + Fruit + Spice + Flavoring (Mayan Chocolate Truffle)
- Herbs + Fruit (Scarlet Herbal, Pomegranate Berry)
Steps To Blending Your Own Tea
Blending your own tea is a craft and takes time to prepare and carefully claim flavors in teas, spices, fruits, herbs, and flavors before you get all “mad scientist” in your kitchen. We recommend that you invest the time to become acquainted and comfortable in each step before proceeding to the next.
Step #1: Get To Know Your Ingredients
Popular tea blends are the result of many hours of tasting, blending, re-blending, and trying again. “Trial and error” will become your best friend.
We HIGHLY recommend that you indulge your palate with a tea journey to experience and explore various teas before embarking on tea blending. Unless you know what a certain true tea tastes like, it’s impossible to effectively pair it with other ingredients.
To begin that tea journey, we have a Tea Journey Starter Set that is perfect for such an occasion!
The ingredients that go into a tea blend must be something you are familiar with in taste, sight, and pairings. Some teas or herbs may not pair well with a fruit or another tea. To help give you an idea of ideal pairings when it comes to tea, herbs, spices, and infusions (flavorings, fruit, etc.,) we have outlined a few below.
Tea Base
This will be the foundation of your tea blend that sets the tone on what type of pairings you will add. Everything should complement one another in flavor. Tea blends are very personal, and what one person likes, another may not.
Tea Base = true teas (black, green, oolong, yellow, or white)
Infusions
Infusions are elements that are added to a tea base to flavor it, enhance it, and marry it to any added herbs.
Infusions = dried/fresh fruit/fruit peel, essential oil, artificial flavoring, cacao nibs, chocolate.
Herbs
Herbs are something that requires a bit of exploring because there are various dimensions of flavors in an herb. When tasting one, ask yourself if that particular herb complements the overall tea or fights against it. Dried herbs for tea blends may taste one way out of the jar and yet another once the tea is brewed. It’s best to taste the herb in both forms (dried and brewed.)
When it comes to herbs, less is more. Adding too much causes a tea to have a very unpleasant flavor (for example: too much lavender causes a soapy tasting tea.)
Herbs = dried/fresh herbs (leaves, whole plant, plant parts, flowers)
Use Caution With Herbs
Before adding herbs to your tea blends, we recommend that you do your homework on herbs and potential side effects, adverse reactions, and toxicity. This is especially important if you have any medical conditions, are taking medications, are undergoing chemotherapy, or are pregnant or nursing.
So, how do you make an herbal blend that isn’t harmful? Unfortunately, we don’t have the medical expertise to advise or make recommendations on what herbs to use. This is why we encourage doing a bit of research on herbs before using them.
There are hundreds of herbs that are documented as having potential harmful side effects/adverse reactions. A published research study (Dietary supplements and herbal medicine toxicities—when to anticipate them and how to manage them – Chart 2) includes a chart that lists a few herbs.
Spices
Spices are akin to “the frosting on the cake” by giving tea additional layers of flavor. Just as herbs, become well acquainted with how each tastes before adding to a tea.
Spices = dried/fresh
Step #2: Understanding How Blends Coincide With Seasons/Mood
Have you noticed that come fall and wintertime, we tend to gravitate more towards teas that are spicy, nutty, and warming? Our preferences in teas change with seasons and our moods. When tired or depressed, a minty tea is a great pick-me-up. Summer and springtime, we are more prone to indulge in fruity, floral teas.
Fruity Blends
Season: spring, summer
Mood: happy, optimistic
Flavor profile: citrus, berry, melon, apple, pear, sweet, floral
- Tea base: Assam, Ceylon, Darjeeling, White, Yellow
- Infusion: dried/fresh strawberry, apple, peach, pear, pineapple, orange, lemon, peel, bergamot
- Herbs: chamomile, lemon verbena, mint, cornflowers, lemongrass
- Spice: sumac
Floral Blends
Season: spring, summer
Mood: melancholy, romantic, content
Flavor profile: floral, sweet, citrus
- Tea base: Oolong, White
- Infusion: dried/fresh peach, pear
- Herbs: jasmine, hibiscus, rose petals, rosehip, cornflowers, elderflower lavender (note: lavender is very strong and does best on its own without anything else added.)
Nutty Blends
Season: fall, winter
Mood: craving, nesting, solitary
Flavor profile: nutty
- Tea base: Genmaicha, Dragonwell, Rooibos
- Spice: nutmeg
Spicy Blends
Season: fall, winter
Mood: feisty, craving, festive
Flavor profile: hot, warm
- Tea base: Ceylon, Rooibos
- Spice: ginger, cloves, anise, cardamom, pepper, nutmeg, cinnamon stick
Sweet Blends
Season: spring, summer
Mood: social, energetic, bright
Flavor profile: malty, honey, melon, fruity, floral
- Tea base: Assam, White, Sencha, Oolong, Rooibos
- Herbs: chrysanthemum, rosehip, mint, honeybush
- Spice: honey
Fire Blends
Season: fall, winter
Mood: nesting, solitary, quiet
Flavor profile: cocoa, smoky, toasty, ashy
- Tea base: Hojicha, Lapsang Souchong, Ceylon, Raw Pu-erh, Rooibos
- Herbs: cacao nibs
- Spice: chocolate chips, paprika
Step #3: Gather Appropriate Equipment For Blending
There are a few things you’ll need for tea blending—most of which you may already have in your kitchen.
- Shot glass (for measuring)
- Measuring spoons
- Dried spices, fruits, herbs (unless you have access to fresh)
- Note: you can dehydrate your own using a dehydrator.
- Airtight containers
- Base teas: loose-leaf true tea (such as Assam, Ceylon, Rooibos, etc.)
- Flavoring
Step #4: Begin Your Blending
NOW it’s time to become that mad scientist we mentioned earlier. You can start with three of your favorite herbs. Experiment with combinations of true tea, herbs, fruits, spices, and flavorings and create something you can call your own. If you would rather play it safe and save time, there are a ton of tea blending recipes online.
Step #5: Store Your Blend Properly
It’s important to store your newly blended tea in an airtight container while being careful not to include any moist/wet/damp particles or items in with the tea.
Sometimes if fresh herbs or fruits are used in a blend, it can cause the tea to become damp, which leads to mold. Adding fresh herbs directly to your hot tea creates a bright flavor finish.
Blending Bliss Is At Your Fingertips
So, now you don’t have to wonder, “How do you make your own tea blends?” You’ll get the process perfected and may even find that you’ll come up with new creations that will tantalize your palate!
We’d love to hear your comments and stories about your tea blending experience!
Don’t forget to check out our lovely gift sets with various tea flavors and blends. It makes a great gift for anyone.
(Psst…don’t forget to treat yourself with one!)
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FAQs
Tea Blending Guide: How To Make Tea Blends? ›
Start with 3 parts base ingredient, 1 to 2 parts supporting, and 1/4 to 1 part accent, and then make adjustments as needed. You will find that herbs often switch roles from one blend to the next. Feel free to begin adding additional ingredients once you are comfortable with your blending skills!
How do you make homemade tea blends? ›Mix 1 part lemon, 1 part ginger, and 2 parts chamomile to a small bowl. Seal in a small glass jar. To serve, add 1 Tablespoon to a tea infuser for 8 ounces of boiling water. Mix 1 part lemon, 1 part ginger, and 2 parts peppermint to a small bowl.
What is the process of tea blending? ›By definition, tea blending is the simple process of putting teas of different characteristics together to form a final product. The golden rule of tea blending is to achieve consistency in taste, while reflecting nuances of it's different components. Classically, tea blending is associated with black tea production.
How do you combine herbs for tea? ›Most teas are made using 1 teaspoon dried primary herb and ½ teaspoon dried secondary herb per cup. For extra flavor, consider adding in other ingredients like dried fruit (apples, mangoes, apricots) and spices (cinnamon, ginger, black pepper) or honey for a little sweetness.
Can I make tea blends to sell? ›Making your own tea blends is a simple process that can be turned into a thriving business. You can share your favorite tastes and flavors with the world, and soon they will love tea as much as you.
What proportions should a tea blend be? ›Start with 3 parts base ingredient, 1 to 2 parts supporting, and 1/4 to 1 part accent, and then make adjustments as needed. You will find that herbs often switch roles from one blend to the next. Feel free to begin adding additional ingredients once you are comfortable with your blending skills!
How many herbs should be in a tea blend? ›Keep in mind that a good guide for portioning is 2 teaspoons of fresh herbs to every 6 ounces of boiling water: You could try combining 1 teaspoon of base tea and 1 teaspoon of fresh herbs, or if you want to top off tea with just a few leaves or some non-herbal ingredients, that works too.
What are the methods of blending? ›There are three primary mechanisms of blending: convection, diffusion, and shear.
What are the three steps of the blending process? ›All of the various equipment and processes for blending solids rely on three principal mechanisms for achieving a blend: convection, diffusion and shear.
What are the 4 steps of tea processing? ›Tea leaf processing can be summarized in four steps: withering, rolling, oxidation, and drying.
Can you mix a bunch of teas together? ›
You can, but it is important that you know the notes so that it won't taste bad. Mixing true teas together is an art, and you need to understand that not all true teas blend well. You will have to add other ingredients as well to balance their flavours.
What herbs are best to mix together? ›Oregano blends well with basil, bay, chives, cilantro, garlic, marjoram, mint, parsley, savory and thyme. Rosemary goes well with bay, garlic, marjoram, oregano, parsley, sage, savory and thyme.
Is tea making profitable? ›Starting a tea business can be very profitable. With proper planning, execution and hard work, you can enjoy great success. Below you will learn the keys to launching a successful tea business. Importantly, a critical step in starting a tea business is to complete your business plan.
How long do tea blends last? ›How long does tea last? The good news is that tea generally stays fresh for quite some time - around three to four months when stored in a bag and up to a year when stored in a tin or other airtight container.
Can you make a lot of money selling tea? ›The panel showed statistics that tea is a profitable and low-cost category for operators compared to other types of beverages. Based on a presentation slide detailing “profit margins example from commercial operators," tea got a 98 percent on profitability/low cost.
What is the golden ratio for tea? ›The volume that is considered the "golden ratio" of leaves to water is one teaspoon of most tea leaves (approx. 3 grams) per 8 ounce cup of water. Please note this is for a traditional 8 ounce cup. Most mugs are around 10 to 12 ounces.
What herbs are good for tea base? ›Good base herbs: lemon balm, peppermint, tulsi, chamomile, St John's wort. These are herbs that complement the base herb/herbs. These may tone down a sharp flavour or offer a health benefit. Good supporting herbs: thyme, spearmint, valerian, liquorice, sage, rosemary.
How much tea powder for 4 cups of tea? ›You can take one teaspoon per cup. If you want the tea to be strong then add more powder.
How many times can you reuse herbs for tea? ›How many times can you steep loose leaf tea? Depending on what method of infusion you use, you can steep tea leaves about five to ten times. Using a traditional western preparation method, you can infuse many types of tea at least two to three times.
How spaced out should herbs be? ›Herbs being planted into the ground require one to four feet in diameter of space. Some specific guidelines include three to four feet for rosemary, sage, mint, oregano and marjoram, two feet for basil, thyme, tarragon and savory, and one foot for cilantro, chives, dill and parsley.
Can you add too much herbs? ›
And you don't want to mix too many herbs (fresh or dried) because they can get lost in a dish and end up being a complete waste of ingredients. Herbs are meant to enhance and add flavor and dimension to a dish, not overpower it or be too subtle. You can combine many dried herbs like basil, oregano and thyme.
What are the three types of blends? ›Common three consonant blends include: str, spl, and spr. When teaching blends, most teachers introduced them in groups.
What is 1 example of blending? ›Blending is one of the many ways new words are made in English. It refers to joining the beginning of one word and the end of another to make a new word with a new meaning. Smog, from smoke and fog, and brunch, from breakfast and lunch, are examples of blends.
What is a very effective technique for blending? ›Question | Answer |
---|---|
What is a very effective technique for blending between perm rods with opposite base directions using zigzag partings to divide base areas | Wave technique |
Which relaxer contains only one component and is used without mixing | Metal hydroxide relaxers |
Word blending happens in the following situations: Consonant + Vowel: One word ends with a consonant and the next word starts with a vowel. Vowel + Vowel: One word ends with a vowel and the next word also starts with a vowel.
What is the difference between blending and mixing? ›Blending is a gentler process than mixing. The aim is to create a uniform distribution of each component in the final blend. It's not to mish-mash all the ingredients together. Most industrial-grade blenders make it a point to minimize ingredient contact with the blender's blades.
How do you make tea in 5 steps? ›- Use Fresh, Filtered Water. ...
- Heat Water to the Correct Temperature. ...
- Measure the Right Quantity of Tea. ...
- Pour the Water Over the Tea Leaves. ...
- Steep for the Appropriate Amount of Time.
- Heat the water to just about boiling point. ...
- Add your tea bags to your pot or cup. ...
- Pour the water directly onto the tea bags.
- Stir the tea once, and then let it steep for 1.5-2 minutes. ...
- Remove the tea bags.
The use of steam in fixation (殺青) of tea leaf enzymes is an important step in processing tea, with the leaves quickly cooled down and then undergoing further processing.
What herbs don't get along? ›Herb | Not compatible with |
---|---|
Basil (Ocimum basilicum) | Lemon balm (Melissa officinalis), mint (Mentha) |
Parsley (Petroselinum crispum ssp. crispum) | Chervil (Anthriscus), dill (Anethum graveolens) |
Lemon balm (Melissa officinalis) | Basil (Ocimum basilicum) |
What 3 herbs grow well together? ›
Herb | Can be Planted With |
---|---|
Rosemary | Sage, oregano, thyme, lavender, and marjoram |
Oregano | Rosemary, sage, thyme, lavender, and marjoram |
Sage | Rosemary, oregano, thyme, lavender, and marjoram |
Thyme | Rosemary, oregano, sage, lavender, and marjoram |
Blood thinning medications (anticoagulants and antiplatelets): Chamomile may increase the risk of bleeding when taken with blood-thinners such as warfarin (Coumadin), clopidogrel (Plavix), and aspirin.
What are the best teas to mix together? ›- Anxiety: Cardamom and Chamomile. ...
- Lack of Energy: Green, Ginger, and Cinnamon. ...
- Digestion: Peppermint. ...
- Fresh Start: Coriander and Anise. ...
- Total Recharge: Matcha. ...
- Skin Reboot: Turmeric and Licorice. ...
- Lowered Immunity: Ginger, Turmeric, and Galangal.
For large quantities, prepare concentrate as follows: Bring one quart of cold water to a roiling boil. Remove from heat and add 8-10 teabags per quart of brewed tea as desired. Steep 3-5 minutes and pour over remaining cold water or ice cubes.
Does using 2 tea bags make the tea stronger? ›Add 1 or 2 tea bags and steep 3 to 5 minutes. The longer you steep, the stronger the flavor.
What herbs like to be next to each other? ›For example, Mediterranean herbs, including lavender, oregano, marjoram, rosemary, sage, and thyme, tend to do well together, as they require many of the same growing conditions. So-called “damp” types, which include basil, cilantro, tarragon, and parsley, are good matches as well.
How to make your own mixed herbs? ›- 1 teaspoon black pepper.
- 2 tablespoons dried oregano.
- 2 tablespoons dried basil.
- 2 tablespoons dried thyme.
- 1 tablespoon dried rosemary.
Like we said earlier, you can plant herbs together as long as they have the same needs, so if you've got some basil, parsley, and lemon balm seeds lying around your home, don't hesitate to plant them all in one container, given that they've got the proper spacing, of course.
Where does tea make the most money? ›In 2021, the revenue of the global tea market was 209 billion U.S. dollars. In that year, the tea market revenue in China amounted to approximately 91.48 billion U.S. dollars, generating the largest single portion of the revenue.
Does tea need to be FDA approved? ›FDA Registration - Coffee and Tea
Processors of Coffee and tea, including regular, decaffeinated, and instant types require FDA food facility registration.
Is tea in high demand? ›
The global tea market size was valued at $49 billion in 2021, and is projected to reach $93.2 billion by 2031, growing at a CAGR of 6.7% from 2022 to 2031. Tea is the most commonly consumed drink after water, with several health benefits.
How do you know when tea goes bad? ›You can tell if your tea has gone bad by the smell, taste, and feel of the tea. Don't drink your tea if it smells musty because it has become too moist. Or, if it has no scent at all and the flavor of your tea is dull then it is also too far gone.
Do tea blends go bad? ›Generally speaking, it's not difficult to figure out if tea has gone bad. You'll have lost aroma, color, and freshness. The date on the label is more of an indication of how long you can expect to experience the full flavor that blend has to offer. It will still be safe to use after that date.
Why does my tea go bad so fast? ›Leaving brewed tea out at room temperature will cause it to spoil more quickly. If you're not going to drink your tea right away, be sure to store it in the fridge. Room temperature is ideal for bacteria growth, so it's best to avoid leaving brewed tea out for more than a few hours.
How do you package tea for sale? ›Many tea bags and sachets are individually wrapped, but loose leaf teas should be sealed in a resealable plastic bag or a metalized foil pouch. Vacuum sealing is another great option for keeping loose leaf tea fresh.
What is a good profit margin for tea? ›In talking to tea retailers across the country, I've regularly seen shops set margins on loose tea between 50% and 90% (not including shipping and packaging). In comparison, an ounce of loose Rooibos is good for 10 cups. Adagio's pricing at $1.67 per ounce comes to $0.17 per cup.
What are the components of tea mixture? ›Eight catechins, caffeine, theaflavine, gallic acid, chlorogenic acid, ellagic acid, and kaempferol-3-G are the main chemical compounds in tea [12,13].
What is a tea blend? ›In the world of tea, blend is the term used for a mixture of two or more ingredients to create a tea or infusion. There are many ways to make it, including using roots, stems, leaves, flowers, fruits, spices, and even essential oils.
What is the best way to make tea at home? ›Bring water to a boil*, and pour over the tea as soon as it reaches boiling. Over-boiling will cause oxygen to be reduced, making the tea taste 'flat'. Use 1 tea bag per cup, or 1 teaspoon of loose tea per cup (6 oz.). Steep the tea for the required time as indicated on the chart to the right.
What are the 7 elements for making tea? ›- Step 1: Use Good Tea. This almost always means loose leaf tea. ...
- Step 2: Use Good Water. ...
- Step 3: Measure Your Tea. ...
- Step 4: Measure the Water Temperature. ...
- Step 5: Time Your Steep. ...
- Step 6: Allow for Full Leaf Expansion. ...
- Step 7: Stop the Steep.
What is the formula for tea? ›
Triethanolamine, or TEA, is an organic compound with the chemical formula N(CH 2CH 2OH) 3. It is a colourless, viscous liquid. It is both a tertiary amine and a triol. A triol is a molecule with three alcohol groups.
How many blends of tea are there? ›There are over 3000 varieties of tea, each with its own specific characteristics. The naming and growing of teas is in many ways similar to wine.
What is the strongest blend of tea? ›Lapsang Souchong is very likely a tea with the strongest and very unique scent and flavor, often an ingredient of a Russian Caravan tea. Keep in mind though, there are lighter and fruiter types too.
What is the difference between pure tea and tea blend? ›How Is Pure Tea Different? Pure tea (a.k.a single-estate tea) is different from blended tea (e.g. Earl Grey / Breakfast Tea) because pure tea leaves come from only one tea estate or garden while blended teas is a combination of various teas, flowers, herbs and spices.
What is the secret to making good tea? ›For a full-flavored cup of tea, use one teaspoon of leaves for every cup. It is important to let the water that you boiled cool down for 30 seconds to a minute. Using water that is too hot, scorches the leaves and tends to make the tea bitter.
How do you make tea for beginners? ›The instructions: Put a couple pinches of tea leaves in your glass, then fill it with hot water. Let steep for a minute, then sip, using your lips to filter out the tea leaves. Add more water, re-steep, and repeat for as long as you want. No muss, no fuss, no obsessing over water temperature or steeping times.
What is the old method of making tea? ›Boiling. Boiling tea leaves is the most ancient method of making tea. Back in the Tang Dynasty (618 to 907), when tea culture was gradually on its rise, people boiled tea leaves for prolonged periods. Sometimes they even cooked them together with different spices.
What are the 4 varieties of tea? ›All tea comes from only one plant called Camellia sinensis. However, based on the type of tea leaves picked and the level of oxidation or processing, tea is classified into five main types: Black, Green, Oolong, White, and Pu-erh.
What are the six main categories of tea? ›Before you start exploring the world of tea varieties, however, you need to understand the main categories of tea: black, oolong, green, white, yellow, and fermented/pu'erh.