Recipes

There is a common misperception that it is complicated or messy to make tea from loose leaf rather than from tea bags. Nothing could be further from the truth.

Whether you are making tea for yourself at home or for your customers, loose leaf tea provides a full and flavorful taste experience. The Tea Smith provides all the essentials for the best cuppas, from a cup of hot tea to iced teas in 1-5 gallon batches. We have also developed recipes for making superior-tasting lattes with loose leaf teas, fruit/tea smoothies, and tea infused foods!

Here are a few of our favorite to get you brainstorming. Give us a call and we will help you create tea-inspired menu items all your own!

Table of Contents

The Perfect Cup of Tea

Start with clean cold water and quality loose leaf tea. Bring the water to a rolling boil for about 15 seconds. Follow the directions provided for the type of tea.

General Rules

  • Use 1 teaspoon of tea per 6-8 ounces of water. Use 1 tablespoon for most herbals.
  • For most white teas, allow water to cool to 175°, then infuse for 3-5 minutes. Most green teas infuse for 2-3 minutes. For black teas and most herbal infusions, use water just "off the boil" and infuse for 4-5 minutes.

Quick Hints

  • Warm the teapot with boiling water before placing in tea.
  • Avoid microwaving water to heat.
  • When in doubt, use cooler water.
  • Select an infuser that gives the leaves plenty of room to expand.

Contact us for tea recommendations that work well if you have high volume, or access to only one temperature of water.

Iced Tea

By the glass or by the gallon, in America we drink more of our tea iced than anywhere else. Brewing loose leaf teas will enhance your menu offering, as well as your customers' experience.

Our most popular iced tea flavors are conveniently portioned in sealed half gallon or gallon bags. We offer five varieties, including our three award-winning flavors from the 2018 Global Tea Championship.

There are four methods to making iced tea: the quick method, the patient method, cold infusion, and party-sized infusion.

Please note: These instructions are for tea. For herbal infusions, triple the tea quantity.

The Quick Method
Infuse 2 teaspoons of tea per 8 oz. water. After infusing, pour over a glass full of ice. Serves one.

The Patient Method
Infuse 1 teaspooon of tea per 8 oz. water. After infusing, chill completely and pour over ice. Serves one.

Cold Infusion
Grab a size 4 T-sac and add approximately 1 oz. of tea leaves inside the T-sac. Fill a one gallon pitcher with cold water. Place the T-sac in the pitcher and let it sit in the refrigerator for 6-8 hours.

The Party Method
This is the Quick Method on a larger scale. Fill a size 4 T-sac with 1 oz. of tea leaves and place in a one-gallon pitcher. Infuse the tea using only 1/2 gallon of hot water. After tea is done infusing, pour over a one gallon pitcher of ice.

Contact us for ideas on which teas are most popular iced, as well as how to make iced tea in 1-5 gallon batches.

Golden Latte

  • 18g Turmeric Chai, infused in a 2 cup pot
  • 4oz milk, frothed
  • 2 pumps of vanilla syrup

Infused tea for 5 minutes. Froth milk with the vanilla syrup. Pour together into mug or cup.

You can also experiment with other flavors in the milk! Carmel, Pumpkin, and Almond would all be delicious.

Caramel Apple Latte

Infused tea for 4 minutes. Froth milk with the vanilla syrup. Pour together into mug or cup.

You can dress up this latte with a stick of cinnamon or a drizzle of carmel!

Peach Tea Smoothie

Place ingredients in blender and process until smooth.

Try combining any of your favorite teas and fruit! We recommend China Jasmine and Sweet Pomegranate as bases, combined with equal parts ice and fruit. You can also upsell a scoop of matcha for your customers. This will add a boost of antioxidants and caffeine!

Matcha Latte

  • 2 tablespoons flavored matcha or 1 teaspoon Culinary Matcha, whisked
  • 4oz milk, frothed

Whisk culinary matcha in 8oz of 178 degree water with a bamboo whisk until frothed. Add 8oz more hot water then pour in frothed milk. Try adding a flavor shot, such as vanilla syrup, to sweeten the drink. If using flavored matcha, it is already sweetened and flavored for you! Use a hand frother to froth the matcha alone or add to milk in yoru electric frother. Add 8oz of water or to desired strength. Matcha latte possibilities are endless! Create your own unique combination of matcha, milk, and tea or ask us for some ideas.

Peppermint Latte

Infuse tea for 5 minutes. Froth milk with the vanilla syrup or add it to the tea. Adding it the milk make it more aromatic! Pour into cup with frothed milk.

London Fog

  • 9g Earl Grey Tea, infused in a 2 cup pot
  • 4oz milk, frothed
  • 2 pumps of vanilla syrup

Infused tea for 5 minutes. Froth milk with the vanilla syrup. Pour together into mug or cup.

You can also make a London Fog with any of our Grey family of teas - Lady Grey makes a delicious 'Lady of London' and Earl Grey de la Creme makes a smooth, uplifting latte, too!

Arnold Palmer

Arnold Palmers are a summertime favorite! The traditional blend is 1/2 black tea and 1/2 lemonade. Our Blue Mountain is a solid choice for this option. Looking for something more exciting, something to differentiate your menu? Try using a different tea! Boldly Blackberry, Apricot Appeal, and Summer Companion are all customer favorites that pair excellently with lemonade. If you are looking for a caffeine-free option, we recommend Hibiscus or our Organic Pink Lemonade Rooibos!