My first flavored tea love was Earl Grey. There was no other tea for me. Then I blossomed like a loose leaf tea. Today I am in love with Genmaicha. The love of tea is about learning and growing. Learning about tea flavors and growing into the abundance that tea has to offer. What are the most popular and unique herbal blends?
The world of tea flavors
The tea world is massive and evolving right in front of us. The word “tea” actually can be traced back to the Chinese word: 茶. But worldwide there are these three words to describe the word tea:
- Te
- Cha
- Chai
Follow the above words through the history of tea. You can actually follow the tea trading industry as well. Any tea that has an herb added to can create an herbal flavor over a tea flavor. There is a powerful peppermint tea called Le Toureg. Le Toureg is a green tea with peppermint oil added. The peppermint is powerful and shrinks the green tea taste and adds a bit of sweetness to the tea. This tea is popular in Southern France and Northern Africa. Taste great hot or iced.
Mellow and deliciously floral, this rose tea is balanced with the bright briskness of a Ceylon black tea.
The 10 top popular blends
- Citrus
- Berries
- Vanilla
- Mint
- Ginger
- Chocolate
- Cinnamon
- Lemon
- Flowers
- Fruit
What are the most popular flavors of tea?
- Ginger
- Rose Hips
- Chamomile
- Hibiscus
- Lemon balm
- Rooibos
- Blackberry
- Earl Grey
- Green
- Lemon
- Chai
- Mint
- Cinnamon
- English breakfast
- Peach
Who has the best tea in the world?
You! You have the best tea in the world right, now in your tea pantry. Because the best tea in the world is a matter of opinion and your opinion is different than mine or most others. So when you pull out your favorite tea, brew a cup and sit down with that cup in your hands. Know, that you are holding the best tea in the world. Of course, that is until you find your next best tea in the world. You know I’m right.
If you are looking for a tea that is the healthiest. It would be White tea because of the highest concentration of antioxidants. It may be considered the healthiest tea. Green tea as well because it is the least processed of all the teas. Both white and green teas contain the highest amounts of antioxidants
Teas and their favorite flavors
Below are the favorite teas and some of the favorite flavors to add to your teas.
Black Tea Flavors
- Bergamot
- Berry
- Vanilla
Green Tea Flavors
- Mint
- Jasmine
- Roasted Rice
Oolong Tea Flavors
- Milky
- Citrus
- Osmanthus
White Tea Flavors
- Pomegranate
- Blueberry
- Rose
Herbal Tea Flavors
- Mint
- Chamomile
- Hibiscus
How to make your own favorite tea blend
Making a tea flavor can be as complex as it is simple. Adding spices, herbs, fruits and more to a tea can change its dynamic. There are many different things you can add to teas. Some flavors do not go well with some teas. If you are creating your own, you may have some trials and errors. I’m very sure you will come up with some amazing flavored tea.
You can make your own tea blends at home. From your garden or picking herbs up at a local farm market. Combining one, two, or more herbs together you too can create your own splendid cup of tea. Be prepared to taste the fresh unique taste of your combination.
I learned about unique tastes while brewing my own mint. Wow, the difference in taste compared to store-bought was night and day.
There is also a process to creating your own teas. Most often used are dried herbs. Fresh can be used but most herbalists dry their herbs to use them in the off-season and they will last longer. Living in areas where the temperature changes and seasons come to an end. You need to preserve your summer crops to last through winter.
Pick your herbs and florals early in the morning after the dew has evaporated.
I dry my herbs by hanging them upside down tied at the stem with dental floss. Yes, dental floss. It works great! There are other methods as well as dehydration. When the herbs are brittle they are ready to be put into containers for future use. Make sure they are thoroughly dry if not they can get musty and moldy.
Make sure you label your containers, no really, do it. I can’t tell you the countless jars of “mystery herbs and florals” I’ve had to toss out.
You will need at least two ingredients. One will be the base. The base is the main ingredient and the one ingredient that combines all the others together.
A simple rule of thumb is if you are looking for Sweeter teas use black or rooibos. Sour or fruity use green teas.
Here are a couple of combinations you may want to try:
- Mint and
black tea - Lemongrass and
black tea or white tea - Rose and green tea or white tea
- Cinnamon and
black tea - Cinnamon and apple
- Lavender and
black tea - Chamomile and black or green tea
- Lemon and Ginger
- Ginger and Mint
- Lemon, Lavender, and Chamomile
The combinations are endless. You can add blackberry leaf or licorice to sweeten your creation.
To create your tea the process is simple
- Boil some water or slightly boil some water
- Start with one tablespoon of your herbs to one cup of water. You can adjust this as you go
- Put your herbs into an infuser or muslin bag and place them into your teacup
- Add your water and allow it to steep for 3-5 minutes
- Strain out the leaves
- You can also add honey, lemon, sugars, and more
Conclusion
It’s so easy to create a tea, your tea. Your signature flavor. You don’t even have to combine herbs or spices. There are plenty of teas out there that are created with just one ingredient. The fun is in the process, the creation, and the brewing. What spices and herbs will you combine? What about a few different flavor combinations like chai?
