Dear Tea Fans,

It is time again for a series of recipes.  These recipes are designed for making simple tea lattes in your home.  A latte is a term used for “coffee milk” but in this case we will be using tea and milk instead.  Feel free to replace traditional milk for soy or even almond or rice.  You will have to experiment and see what tastes best to you.   Lattes can be served hot or poured over ice (if all ingredients are already cool.)  The recipes included are pretty easy but for some inspiration here is a super cool video on latte art!  Don’t start here but get some fun ideas!

Now here are some recipes:

Earl Grey Hot or Iced Latte

8 ounces of strongly brewed hot Earl Grey Tea
4 ounces milk (could be soy)
3 tbs Vanilla or Sugar Free Vanilla Syrup

Pour hot tea into serving cup.  Stir in syrup, steam milk
and add it to cup.  Stir and top.

If you wish to ice it start with cold tea and add cold milk
frothed into the cup.  Stir.

—
Simple Indian Milk Tea

Experiment with the one cup concept of creating personalized
chai.  This recipe is an example but you can offer a variety of
spice options and customize it to the individual.

For one cup tea :

2 tsp Indian black tea (finally cut)
2/3 cups water
1/4 cup milk
1/4 cup sweetened condensed milk
1 cardomom or small piece of crushed ginger
1 teaspoon sugar or stevia

Put tea in disposable filter in water and let it boil vigorously for 5 minutes. Pour in milk and add sugar. Let it boil until the milk rises.
Add crushed cardomom pods or ginger.
Serve hot.

In Indian style:
For better taste, tea should be boiled for long time. The more you boil, the more creamy it will be. The amount of sugar can be varied with your taste. (the Indian’s drink it SWEET)

- – -

Masala Spice Chai Latte

Ingredients:

3 – 4 Tea Spoons Darjeeling
A chunk of dry ginger (or fresh ginger if dry isn’t handy)
3 – 4 cardmom pods, crushed (See Note below)
3 Cloves
Small piece of cinnamon
A Tsp of SOANP
(I don’t know the name. Can be found at Indian grocers. Also indian restaurants keep this for your pleasure after dinner. Looks like cummin seeds)

1 or 2 whole black peppers (optional)
Sugar to taste
Milk (atleast Vitamin D, low fat won’t do)

Brewing:

Bring 2 cups of water to boil (microwave or otherwise). Add all the ingredients and boil again for about 15 seconds. Let stand for a minute. Warm milk in a pot.

Filter tea into cups.

Add milk and sugar. That’s IT.

If you don’t like to spend much time, mix all the spices and coarsley grind them. Boil water and add tea and a tsp of this ground spices. Rest is as above.

Note: Since cardmom is expensive, I peel them and add the skin to my stock of tea leaves. This gives a distinct aroma. Of course you boil the skin with water.

- – -

HOT PEPPERMINT & CREAM

A dollop of sweet whipped cream, nutmeg and a little chocolate are the perfect topping for a warm cup of peppermint tea.

SERVINGS: 4

INGREDIENTS:

2 cups    Freshly Brewed Peppermint Tea
½ cup    Heavy Cream
2 tsp    Sugar
Ground Nutmeg
Grated Semisweet or Powdered Chocolate

DIRECTIONS:
Briefly heat the strained, steeped mint tea in a small saucepan over medium heat, until bubbles form at the edge of the pan. Whip the cream in a small bowl, adding the sugar gradually, until the cream is stiff. Pour the mint tea into a cup, then top with cream, nutmeg and chocolate.

HELPFUL TIPS:
Don’t allow the tea to steep too long or the tea will be too strong for most tastes. If too strong, add a shot of hot boiling water.

- – -

Mint Tea Latte

INGREDIENTS
2 teaspoons black loose-leaf tea
8 ounces filtered water
2-3 fresh spearmint leaves (with stems)
4 ounces whole milk
1 teaspoon unrefined (raw) sugar (gives better taste)

INSTRUCTIONS
Bring the water to a boil (let sit for a few minutes to prevent burning the tea). Place loose-leaf tea, mint, and sugar in a French press (or tea pot), add the hot water, stir, and let steep for about five minutes.
Froth milk, add to tea, and pour in a large mug.

If using the tea pot method, strain tea in a large mug and enjoy.

—

Green Matcha Latte

INGREDIENTS

1 1/2 matcha green tea powder
3/4 cup water
3/4 cup low fat soy milk
2 TBS sugar or stevia or ??

Mix all ingredients together with handheld frother and serve
over the top of ice.  Remember that a little matcha can go along
way to be sure to taste test this first and make sure the porportions
are right for the type of matcha you are using.

–

Snickerdoodle Delight Latte

1 OZ Torani Cinnamon Vanilla Syrup
1 Cup Milk
1/2 cup of black tea brewed strong  (enough leaf for 1-2 cups)

Steam the milk and the syrup together and froth.  Add the hot tea.
Pour into a cup and add the froth on top.

This can also be done cold if all ingredients are kept cold!