If you are a tea fan, you have likely explored a range of blends. As we enter the colder months of the year, a nice warm cup of tea is the perfect thing to keep you nice and cosy.
It can get boring if you have fallen into the rut of constantly drinking the same tea. When it comes to tea, the last thing you should do is limit yourself; there’s a whole world of delicious flavours out there, all ready to be tried.
The possible flavour combinations can be unlimited, especially if you create your own blend. Although the idea of creating your own blend can be intimidating, it is more straightforward than you probably think.
At Leaf Tea Shop, we know everything you need about tea, especially creating the perfect blend. Here is everything you need to know about making your own tea blend.
What is a Tea Blend?
A tea blend is a mix of teas merged to create a new flavour profile. Though there is no real limit on how many teas you can combine to make a blend, it is recommended that you only use 2-4 flavours to get the most out of every tea.
The last thing you want is for the flavours to be lost, so keeping your blend simple will ensure each flavour has a chance to shine.
The Benefits of Blending Your Own Tea
Creating your own tea blend provides an opportunity to experiment with flavours and has a number of benefits. Some of these benefits include:
Save Money
Making your own tea blend is a smart way to save money. When you purchase a pre-made blend, you’re stuck with a fixed quantity. However, by creating your own, you’ll have the individual teas on hand, allowing you to keep recreating your favourite mix using the ingredients you already own.
There is also no way of knowing whether you will enjoy a particular blend, and the last thing you want to do is invest money into a premade blend you don’t like. By making your own blend, you will save money using individual teas you know you already like, which you can use again if you don’t like your blend.
Cater to Your Tastes
Everybody has a different taste. Even if a tea blend is trendy and well-liked, that doesn’t necessarily mean you will like it.
If you are particularly picky about tea, you may not like any of the tea blends available to you, so creating your own blend gives you a chance to create a blend you will enjoy. Because there is room for adjustments when making your own, you can make flavours that you enjoy more prevalent.
Experimentation
Nothing is better than a bit of flavour experimentation for any food or beverage. Variety is the spice of life, and it can be easy to get trapped in a pattern of drinking the same drinks and eating the same foods.
Experimentation also creates the opportunity to learn a new skill, such as how to make your own herbal tea or how to make a wellness blend.
By creating your own tea blend, you have the chance to experiment with flavour combinations, create something unique to your taste buds, and even discover a combination that others may adore.
Targeted Health
You are likely aware that tea can provide several health benefits. For centuries, tea has been used as a medicine to aid many ailments, including stomach issues and nausea.
Suppose you have some concerns that you would like to address naturally, making your own tea blend can be a great way to address multiple problems. For example, if you have been suffering from a cold, you could blend peppermint tea with ginger tea to relieve you.
Creating tea blends that address your problems has a lot of potential, and by mastering your blends, you can improve your health.
Using The Correct Tools
Before creating your tea blend, you must gather the correct tools. Though the blending process is relatively simple, it can be difficult if you do not have the correct teaware.
The tools you will need include:
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Scale
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Teaspoon
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Tea and other components/ingredients
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Small mixing bowl
- 2-3 equal size cups
- Tea infuser/filters
Identify What You Want From The Tea
Before selecting the teas for your blend, consider what you want to gain from it.
As previously discussed, are you looking to boost your health? Improve the look of your skin? Or create a delicious drink? By identifying the purpose of the blend, selecting the teas for your blend will become much easier.
Select Your Tea Base
The base you pick for your blend will act as the anchor, bringing all of your tea together. You want to pick a neutral base that can work with many different teas. A big mistake would be going too bold with the base tea, making it difficult to make a smooth combination.
Some bases that we would recommend include:
- White tea: This base pairs well with fruity flavours, has a subtle taste and isn’t high in caffeine.
- Black tea: This full-bodied base is a great pairing for bolder flavours and complements sweet flavours well. However, this base is high in caffeine, so be mindful of this when selecting additional teas.
- Green tea: This light base pairs well with citrus and fresh flavours and does not contain as much caffeine as black tea.
- Oolong tea: This incredibly versatile base is great when paired with floral and citrus flavours; the caffeine content on this tea can vary, so be sure to check the specific tea you purchase.
Pick 1-2 Additional Flavours
Once you have picked your base, you should pick the complementary teas you will blend with it. If you are attempting to make your own tea blend for the first time, you may be worried about attempting it without guidance.
To help you out slightly, here are some suggestions for fantastic flavour combinations.
Fresh Taste
If you are looking for a light and fresh tea blend that is perfect for titillating the senses and waking you up, creating a nice fresh blend will be in your best interest.
There are a few combinations that you can put together to create a delicious, fresh blend.
Peppermint
Peppermint tea is a fantastic choice if you are looking for a sharp and fresh tea. It also contains no caffeine, so if you are looking for flavour without the energy boost, including peppermint tea can elevate the blend.
Peppermint also helps with digestive health, making it not only delicious but beneficial, too.
Chamomile
Chamomile is known for its soothing effects and is a great tea for clearing your mind and boosting your mood. Chamomile can help you wind down and relax, and it has a delicious subtle taste that works well with stronger tea flavours.
Spicy Blend
Heading into the colder months, sometimes a warm and spicy tea is more appetising. It can keep you warm internally and set you up well for a chilly day ahead. Enjoying a zesty and warm drink can also help if you are experiencing any cold and flu symptoms.
Ginger Root
Nothing screams autumn and winter more than ginger root tea. Combined with any tea, ginger root creates a warm, incredibly comforting, and rich taste. Ginger also has many health benefits, such as improving digestion and relieving nausea.
Masala Chai
Masala chai is a popular tea throughout South Asia. It blends warm ingredients such as cinnamon, cardamom, and cloves. This warming tea is brilliant for the colder months and can benefit your health by reducing inflammation and boosting your immunity.
Winter Blend
As we enter winter and face the colder months, nothing is better than sitting back and enjoying a nice warm drink. In winter, light is lower, so we get less vitamin D and feel exhausted much easier.
A nice winter blend can help warm you up during the colder months and provide an energy boost, thanks to the caffeine.
English Breakfast Tea
English breakfast tea is a high-caffeine tea, perfect for giving you the boost you need to get through winter. It also contains vitamins B2, C, and E, which improve your mood and energy during the colder months.
Not only does the tea provide many benefits, but it is also absolutely delicious and works brilliantly as a complementary flavour for any tea blend.
Salted Caramel
If you are looking for a rich and luxurious flavour profile, you should definitely consider salted caramel tea. This indulgent tea elevates any blend and adds a delicious depth, perfect for winter.
Salted caramel tea is also rich in antioxidants, which can reduce inflammation and combat stress.
Remember Timing When Selecting Your Tea
You must remember that when it comes to brewing, not all teas brew within the same time frame. Some teas need longer to brew, while others may suffer if left to brew for too long.
Ensure you check the brewing times of your blend, as the taste may be affected if the included teas do not have similar brewing times.
Blend Your Own Tea
Blending the tea is incredibly straightforward. Use your mixing bowl to mix the blend. Record how much of each tea you add to the blend when you add it. Once you are happy with your quantities, mix the contents of the bowl.
This will allow you to keep track of the tea, so if you wish to make the blend again, you will know exactly how much each ingredient is required.
Serve Your Blend
Once your blend is perfect, put it into tea bags or a tea infuser and allow it to steep for the required time. You can then serve the tea in your favourite mug as it is or add milk to cool and enrich the tea.
Don’t Be Afraid to Experiment
We hope this blog has helped you better understand how to make your perfect tea blend. Remember that at the Leaf shop, we offer a selection of loose teas that are perfect for making your own signature blend.
Please contact our team for advice if you want to learn more about the process. Remember to have fun and experiment on your blending journey.
