So, you know that tea is really good for your health and you are trying to convince yourself to have that cup of tea every day, but you can’t seem to enjoy its bitter taste that much..
Tea is wonderful for your body and mind and you should definitely give it a second chance. Luckily there are multiple ways to make it more delicious. In this post I am going to suggest 15 ingredients that can certainly make your tea drinking a delightful experience!
1. Sugar
White or brown, sugar is the most common add-in to tea. Most people add sugar to their tea to sweeten it and eliminate its bitterness. Although white sugar is what everyone usually use (especially for their iced tea), brown sugar can compliment certain kinds of tea better that white. Brown sugar pairs well with most varieties of black teas and chai teas, it has a fuller flavor than white sugar and it is much healthier for you!
2. Honey
Another way to sweeten your tea is good old honey! I personally add honey to most of my teas except for green tea or some herbal infusions which are naturally sweet. You can find so many different kinds of honey out there, it’s delicious and very healthy for you! Rich in vitamins and free of preservatives and chemicals tea is the perfect addition to tea! You should definitely try it!
3. Ginger
Ginger is used all over the world as a spice to compliment favorite dishes and it’s known for it’s aromatic and pungent flavor. You can find it in many forms -ginger root, oil, powder- and all work well giving it a fresh, spicy flavor. Adding ginger to your tea may be the perfect way to fight an upset stomach or a cold and it goes well with honey and cinnamon too!
4. Lemon
This is an essential ingredient for most tea drinkers. Adding a slice of lemon or squeezing some lemon juice to your tea can give it a fresh, slightly sweet and acidic taste that I am sure you will love. Lemon is rich in vitamin C and other minerals and can make your -already healthy- cup of tea even healthier. Also in contrast to sugar it’s almost calorie free. One more reason to try it!
5. Milk
In Britain people add milk to their tea to soften its flavor and make it more delicious. Most black tea varieties -flavored and non- go well with milk. Black tea tends to be bitter so adding some milk to it makes it less harsh to your tongue and more flavorful. Milk is also very healthy for you since it contains protein and calcium.
Tip: It’s preferable to use warm or hot milk instead of cold when adding it to hot tea because cold milk will make the milk proteins to scald.
6. Fruit Jam
You probably never heard of that before but adding some fruit jam to their tea is what the Russians do and the Russians know about tea! This is a great way to complement your tea since not only does it sweeten it but it enhances the flavor of it in general, giving it some fruitiness as well as some extra vitamins! So next time you make a cup of tea instead of reaching out for sugar you may want to open your refrigerator and grab your favorite fruit jam and add some in it!
7. Chocolate
That’s right! We all love chocolate but chocolate is not just to eat but to drink also! Adding some chocolate shavings to your tea can give it a mouth-watering taste! Chocolate compliments greatly chai tea and peppermint tea giving them a rich, full- bodied flavor. I highly suggest trying it!
8. Cinnamon
This is a spice the majority of people use to to give some extra flavor to their tea. A lot of tea mixes have it as a main ingredient too. Cinnamon is a favorite spice for almost everyone especially during the fall due to it’s warm and cozy aroma. You can add it to all kinds of tea and just a tiny amount is enough to make your tea drinking a mind-traveling experience. Cinnamon is also known for its many health benefits. It has been shown to help boost metabolism and help with diabetes. You may want to avoid adding too much though because it can make your tea slightly bitter and strong.
9. Whiskey
If you are looking for a way to enhance your tea’s flavor and calm your nerves too after a long day then whiskey would be the best option for you. Adding just one shot of your favorite whiskey to your steaming hot tea and maybe just a hint of sugar or honey will create a drink that you will certainly go back to. It pairs well especially with black teas and can be a great addition to iced tea too. Just remember; It’s about adding flavor to tea with whiskey when mixing them together and not vice versa!
10. Orange peel
Orange peel is not just great for use in desserts but great to add to tea too! It’s very fragrant and gives your tea a fresh, citrusy taste and smell. You can add it to any kind of tea from black and green to any herbal tea and all you have to do is just grate and pour some into your brewed tea. What’s also to love about orange peel is that it’s full of vitamins, even more than orange juice!
11. Nutmeg
Another spice that you should try adding to your tea is nutmeg. Yes, nutmeg doesn’t only pair well with coffee but with tea too! Nutmeg is similar to cinnamon in taste and aroma and is a brilliant way to give your tea a warmer and sweeter flavor. It goes well especially with black tea. It has a load of health benefits and you just need to use a small hint of it.
12. Cloves
A favorite spice among tea lovers is also cloves. This tiny spice is loaded with antioxidants, minerals and vitamins. It has anti-fungal, antibacterial and analgesic properties. Cloves bear some of the taste characteristics of both cinnamon and nutmeg and they are the perfect spice to use when preparing some strong black tea or chai tea. It gives tea some spiciness and one is more enough to use for one cup of tea.
13. Mint
You can add some mint leaves or a mint tea bag to either hot or iced tea for a fresh, invigorating drink that can truly relax and rejuvenate you. If using fresh mint leaves make sure to crush them first to release the essential oils of them. This is a great add-in to your tea especially to ease any stomach aches or indigestion. For more health benefits of peppermint you can read this previous post of mine. You can use mint in any kind of tea but it tastes great with black and green tea especially. The amount of leaves used is totally up to you.
14. Coconut milk
I mentioned milk as an ingredient to complement tea but if your are sensitive to lactose or simply don’t like the taste of regular milk you can try coconut milk. Creamy, delicious and packed with nutrition. coconut milk can give your tea a sweet and tropical flavor that you will fall in love with. It’s great to use with chai tea but I personally add it to my kava root tea and white tea. When using coconut milk I would suggest adding some cinnamon or nutmeg too which makes it even more delicious.
These and many more fun ingredients promise to transform your cuppa tea from a good one to a great one! Hope you enjoyed my post!
Is there something else that you love adding to your tea? If yes I would like to know! Please leave your commend below…