As the temperatures start to rise, many of us look for ways to stay cool and refreshed. One of the best ways to do so is by sipping on a glass of iced tea. Iced tea is a classic summer drink that has been around for generations. However, there are so many different types of tea to choose from, and it can be challenging to know which one is the best for making iced tea. In this article, we will share with you the best tea for iced tea, how to infuse them, and some delicious recipes to try out.

What is Iced Tea

Iced tea is a refreshing and flavourful drink that is perfect for hot summer days. It's made by brewing tea and then chilling it with ice. Iced tea can be served plain or with added flavors such as lemon, honey, or mint. Iced tea is a popular and healthy drink, and there are many different varieties to choose from.

The Best Tea for Iced Tea - Black, Green, and Herbal Infusions

The best tea for iced tea is a matter of personal preference. However, there are three types of tea that are commonly used. These are black tea, green tea, and herbal infusions.

Black tea is the most popular tea used to make iced tea. It has a robust flavour and can hold up well to the addition of sweeteners and other flavours. Some popular black teas for iced tea include Ceylon black tea, Darjeeling, and Earl Grey.

Green tea is lighter and more delicate tea than black tea. It has a slight vegetal flavour and is often used to make iced tea that is a bit more refreshing. Some popular green teas for iced tea include Jasmine, Sencha, and Dragonwell.

Herbal tea is not technically tea, but rather an infusion of herbs, fruits, and flowers. It's a great option for those who want a caffeine-free alternative to traditional tea. Some popular herbal teas for iced tea include mint, chamomile, hibiscus and various fruit teas.

Benefits of Drinking Iced Tea

In addition to being a refreshing drink, iced tea also has several health benefits. Fresh brewed iced tea is always better than carbonated drinks and processed juices. It will keep you hydrated and it’s a great source of antioxidants, which can help boost metabolism. Iced tea also contains less caffeine than coffee, making it a great alternative for those looking to reduce their caffeine intake. Additionally, the goodness of fruits in the tea and garnishing helps keep the immune system and skin healthy.

Infusing Iced Tea with Fruits and Herbs

One of the best things about iced tea is that it's incredibly versatile. You can infuse it with fruits and herbs to create a unique and flavourful drink. Some popular fruits and herbs to add to iced tea include lemons, oranges, strawberries, raspberries, mint, and basil. To infuse your iced tea, simply add the fruit or herbs to the tea while it's steeping. You can also add the fruit or herbs directly to the glass for a more intense flavor and as beautiful garnishing.

5 Delicious and Creative Iced Tea Recipes

Southern Sweet Tea: This is a classic iced tea that is sweet and refreshing. To make it, brew our South Melbourne Breakfast black tea and add sweetener of your choice. Add lemon slices and chill with ice.

Green Tea with Mint and Lemon: This is a refreshing and healthy iced tea that's perfect for a hot summer day. Brew Japanese Sencha green tea, add fresh mint leaves, and stir in honey. Chill with ice and add a squeeze of fresh lemon juice.

Lemongrass and Ginger Iced Tea: This iced tea is packed with flavour and antioxidants. Brew Lemongrass Ginger tea, add fresh apple slices, a cinnamon stick, and a handful of mint leaves, and sweeten with honey. Chill with ice and garnish with a slice of orange.

Strawberry Basil Iced Tea: This iced tea is fruity and herbaceous. Brew English Breakfast black tea, add fresh strawberries and basil leaves, and sweetener of your choice. Chill with ice and garnish with a strawberry and a sprig of basil.

Peach Iced Tea: This is a classic iced tea with a sweet and fruity twist. We use oolong tea for this recipe. Brew Sweet Peach tea, add sliced peaches, and sweeten with honey. Chill with ice and garnish with a peach slice.

How to Make Iced Tea with Fruit Infusions

• Brew your tea using your favourite method.
• While the tea is still hot, add your preferred fruit or herb. You can also add sweeteners of your choice at this point.
• Let the tea steep for a few minutes until it's cool enough to add ice.
• Pour the tea into a glass full of ice and garnish.

Tips to Make Perfect Iced Tea Every Time

• Use loose leaf & brew it twice as strong. Eg: If you normally use 1 tsp of Lemongrass Ginger for a hot tea, use 2 tsp for your cold tea. And if you use a standard 230 ml of hot water, drop that down to 150 ml of hot water.⁠
• Go beyond standard green or black teas. Try fruit teas, rooibos teas and flavoured teas. Try different flavours. You never know what you will enjoy. ⁠
• Sweeten with juice or lemonade. Great alternative to sugar.⁠
• Go wild with fruit. ⁠
• Play with herbal infusions. Like fruit, herbs bring a lot of flavour. ⁠
• Just experiment. Unlike coffee, with iced tea if there’s a flavour you like, you can replicate it. You can have fruity, floral, savory, sweet, umami.

Your Perfect Iced Tea Recipe Awaits You!

Iced tea is a classic summer drink that is perfect for staying cool and refreshed. Whether you prefer black, green, or herbal infusions, there's a perfect iced tea recipe out there for you. Try infusing your tea with fruits and herbs for a unique and flavourful twist. Remember to use high-quality tea leaves and fresh ingredients for the best results. Cheers to a refreshing summer ahead!

Try out one of our iced tea recipes and let us know which one is your favourite!

 

 

This Christmas season, elevate your festive celebrations with Tea Drop’s Limited Edition Gingerbread Hot Chocolate—a rich, decadent ingredient infused with notes of cinnamon, ginger, and a subtle sweetness. Blended with the finest West African cocoa powder, Australian cane sugar, and fresh ground spices, this powder combines the classic warmth of chocolate with the spicy essence of ginger, transporting you to that cosy, nostalgic place in your memory.

To help you make the most of this deliciously festive treat, we’ve partnered with Elise Pulbrook, a MasterChef Season 13 semi-finalist and cookbook curator, who  specialises in weddings, private events, and all other culinary services. Elise has shared her new recipe for a Flourless Chocolate Gingerbread Loaf. This gluten-free cake is perfect for Christmas, offering a rich and indulgent flavour with a hint of spice.

Flourless Chocolate Gingerbread Loaf by Elise Pulbrook

Serves: 12 | Prep time: 15 minutes | Baking time: 30-40 minutes

This Flourless Chocolate Gingerbread Loaf, created by Elise, blends rich dark chocolate with the festive, warming spices of gingerbread, making it the ideal dessert for your Christmas gatherings. By using Tea Drop’s Gingerbread Hot Chocolate Powder as a key ingredient, Elise has crafted a loaf that is both delicious and beautifully spiced, perfect for anyone looking for a gluten-free treat to celebrate the season.

Ingredients:

• 200g brown sugar
• 4 eggs
• 100g 70% dark chocolate (chopped or buttons)
• 150ml extra virgin olive oil
• 60g Tea Drop Gingerbread Hot Chocolate Powder, plus extra for dusting
• 200ml boiling water
• 2 tsp vanilla bean paste
• 1 tsp salt
• 330g natural almond meal (skin on)
• 1 tsp bicarb soda
• 1 tsp baking powder

Method:

1. Preheat the Oven: Set your oven to 180°C (160°C fan forced) and line a loaf tin.

2. Melt the Chocolate: Place the chocolate in a heatproof bowl over barely simmering water until melted.

3. Whisk the Eggs and Sugar: Using a stand mixer with the paddle attachment, whisk the eggs and sugar for about 4 minutes on medium speed until light in colour and fluffy in texture. With the mixer running, gradually drizzle in 100g of olive oil, continuing to mix until emulsified.

4. Prepare the Wet Ingredients: Remove the melted chocolate from the heat and stir in the remaining 50g of olive oil, Tea Drop Gingerbread Hot Chocolate Powder, vanilla, salt, and boiling water. Add the water gradually to avoid shocking the chocolate mixture. Once cool enough to touch, pour the chocolate mixture into the egg mixture while the stand mixer is running on low.

5. Fold in Dry Ingredients: Turn off the mixer and fold in the almond meal, bicarb soda, and baking powder.

6. Bake the Loaf: Pour the batter into the loaf tin and bake for 30 to 40 minutes, or until a skewer inserted into the centre comes out clean.

7. Dust and Serve: Once baked, dust the loaf with additional Tea Drop Gingerbread Hot Chocolate Powder for an extra festive touch. Serve sliced with ice cream, cream, or seasonal berries for a perfect Christmas dessert.

     

This Flourless Chocolate Gingerbread Loaf is an indulgent Christmas treat, combining the richness of dark chocolate with the spicy, festive warmth of gingerbread. Perfect for those who are looking for a gluten-free dessert, it will be a standout addition to any Christmas occasion.

A warming cup of hot chocolate is just the thing you need on a chilly afternoon or cold winter night.

Or if you have some Tea Drop artisan drinking chocolate lingering around in your kitchen shelf from the winter months, worry not we have some insanely delicious and easy iced and frozen hot chocolate recipes perfect for warmer days when drinking hot chocolate would be, well insane.

Whip up these easy hot and cold chocolate drink recipes at home.

Classic Hot Chocolate

Life is better with chocolate! Especially during winter, nothing beats the deep flavour of the classic hot chocolate.

Ingredients

• 2 tablespoons Tea Drop Artisan Drinking Chocolate
• 30ml hot water
• 200ml milk of your choice

How to make Classic Hot Chocolate

1. Add 20g of chocolate (2tbs) into a mug.
2. A little bit of hot water and make a paste.
3. Pour a little hot milk and stir/mix it up.
4. And then slowly pour the rest of the milk so it becomes chocolaty.
5. Garnish - Grate your favourite chocolate bar on top. We use dark chocolate mint

Whipped Iced Chocolate

A super delicious, rich, and kid-friendly version of the popular Dalgona Coffee.

Ingredients

• 2 tablespoons of Tea Drop Artisan Drinking Chocolate
• 1 table spoon hot water
• 60ml heavy whipping cream
• 120ml milk of your choice

How to make Whipped Iced Chocolate

1. Whisk chocolate powder, hot water, and heavy whipping cream in a small bowl.
2. Add ice and milk to a glass.
3. Top the milk with whipped chocolate.
4. Stir and serve immediately.

Chai Spiced Hot chocolate

Chocolate and chai don’t make an appearance together very often, and it’s a shame because it’s a fantastic combination.

Ingredients

• 4 tablespoons of Tea Drop Chai concentrate
• 2 tablespoons of Tea Drop Artisan Drinking Chocolate
• 230ml milk of your choice
• Whip cream and grated dark chocolate for garnish

How to make Chai Spiced Hot chocolate

1. Place milk in a saucepan on medium heat and add chai concentrate to milk.
2. Add chocolate powder in a cup and add a splash of hot water, mix until it becomes a paste.
3. Add this to the milk and stir well. Leave to gently simmer.
4. Pour chai chocolate into a mug, top it off with whipped cream and garnish with dark chocolate shavings.

Frozen Hot Chocolate

If you love hot chocolate but want to switch things up a little, then you’ve come to the right recipe for that. Also, the word “hot” maybe a little deceptive because this is still a cold drink.

Ingredients

• 4 tablespoons of Tea Drop Artisan Drinking Chocolate
• 4 cups ice
• 200ml milk of your choice
• Whipped cream and chocolate sprinkles to garnish

How to make Frozen Hot Chocolate

1. Add chocolate powder, milk and ice to a blender and blend until smooth
2. Pour the frozen hot chocolate you made into a tall glass, top it off with a generous amount of whipped cream and chocolate sprinkles and serve with a bamboo or stainless-steel straw.

 

 

 

Sugar, spice, and everything ice! 

Looking for a summer treat? These tea infused ice cream pops are perfect!

What you need

• 350ml heavy cream
• 150ml milk
• Our suggested teas for infusion - 3tbp of Matcha or  50g/20 teabags of Chamomile Blossom or 35g/12 teabags of Malabar Chai
• 150g sugar
• 4 egg yolks
• 1.5tsp vanilla extract for matcha ice cream
• 2tbp honey for chamomile ice cream

The only difference in ingredients will be the infusion of tea.

How to make Matcha Ice Cream

1. Using a saucepan heat the milk.
2. Add sugar and Matcha to hot milk and stir.
3. In a separate heat-proof bowl, whisk the egg yolks together.
4. Then slowly pour the warm milk into the egg yolks and continue to whisk till mixture thickens. 
5. Note: Make sure the milk is not too hot when pouring over eggs and that you keep whisking on.
6. Place this in the freezer for 5 hours.
7. In a separate bowl add heavy cream, vanilla extract and whip together till soft peaks form.
8. Now take out the mixture from the freezer and whip together with the cream using an electric hand mixer.
9. Place back in the freezer overnight or at least 8 hours.

How to make Chamomile Ice Cream

1. Using a saucepan heat milk.
2. Add sugar and honey to hot milk and stir.
3. In a separate heat-proof bowl, whisk the egg yolks together.
4. Remove pan from heat, add the Chamomile Blossoms tea. Let it steep for 10 minutes, then strain milk into a clean pan.
5. Then slowly pour the warm milk into the egg yolks and continue to whisk till mixture thickens.
6. Place this in the freezer for 5 hours.
7. In a separate bowl add heavy cream and whip till soft peaks form.
8. Now take out the mixture from the freezer and whip together with the cream using an electric hand mixer.
9. Place back in the freezer overnight or at least 8 hours.

How to make Chai Ice Cream

1. Using a saucepan heat milk.
2. Add sugar to hot milk and stir.
3. In a separate heat-proof bowl, whisk the egg yolks together.
4. Remove pan from heat, add the Malabar Chai tea. Let it steep for 10 minutes, then strain milk into a clean pan.
5. Then slowly pour the warm milk into the egg yolks and continue to whisk till mixture thickens.
6. Place this in the freezer for 5 hours.
7. In a separate bowl add heavy cream and whip till soft peaks form.
8. Now take out the mixture from the freezer and whip together with the cream using an electric hand mixer.
9. Place back in the freezer overnight or at least 8 hours.

Scoop the ice cream into popsicle molds if you want them to be fun pops. Either way they are delicious and a great way to beat the heat this summer!

Tea is the most popular beverage in the world after water. And no matter the season we can always enjoy a cup of warm or iced tea any time of the day.  Tea leaves are made from the plant Camellia sinensis. Black tea, Green tea, White tea, Oolong tea and Pu Erh tea comes from this same plant. The distinctive flavour profiles and colours that come from these tea types are due to the way the plant is processed.

Different types of tea leaves

Green tea leaves and white tea leaves are the least processed and not oxidized and therefore regarded the healthiest. Black tea leaves are fully oxidized, and oolong tea leaves are only partially oxidized. Pu Erh tea leaves are aged and considered a post oxidized tea. These tea types offer a host of health benefits. The caffeine content will vary between these teas depending on the process.

Herbal tea is not officially a tea, as it does not come from the Camellia sinensis plant, but is instead an infusion of leaves, fruits, bark, roots, or flowers of almost any edible, non-tea plant. The most common herbal teas are chamomile tea, hibiscus tea, peppermint tea, ginger, and rooibos tea. Herbal teas have been around for a long time, with our ancestors’ making infusions of the plants, roots, and herbs they saw around them for medicinal use. This practice continues today with the use of herbal teas to support a healthy mind and body.

Why is tea healthy?

Potential health benefits of tea are due to the polyphenol or flavonoids content in the tea leaves. These chemical compounds act as antioxidants, which control the damaging effects of free radicals in the body. The more tea leaves are processed, usually the less polyphenol content. But their antioxidizing power will still be high.

Health benefits of tea

No matter the season, we recommend getting into the natural, immune-boosting habit of drinking tea every day as tea has a myriad of health benefits.

• Keeps You Hydrated - Did you know that drinking 4-6 cups of tea a day is as good for keeping you hydrated as a litre of water. Whether enjoyed as a delicious hot cuppa or served on ice stay hydrated with tea.
• Great Coffee Alternative – Herbal teas are caffeine free, while traditional teas have less amounts of caffeine than typically found in coffee. Therefore, it will help boost energy and you can consume it without the jittery side effects when the caffeine wears off.
• High in Antioxidants – Tea is loaded with antioxidants that help protect your body from free radicals, keeping you healthy mentally and physically.
• May aid in weight loss – The jury is still out on this, but studies have shown that the caffeine and catechins in tea may aid with weight loss. Green tea is a popular choice for weight loss, as it contains amino acids that signal the body to burn stored fat. The caffeine in tea also helps boost energy and is ideal as a pre-workout drink. Teas are calorie free and the ideal drink to have guilt free.
• Aids in digestion – Tea aids with digestion and can treat issues from nausea to an upset stomach. It also contains tannins which has shown to reduce intestinal inflammation, which can help soothe stomach cramps and irritable bowel syndrome. Teas with ginger are a popular choice.
• Boost your mood – Drinking tea is always connected with calming and soothing effects and linked to decreased stress levels and help you unwind after a tough day.
• Boost your immune system - Tea is great for your immune system. Many types of teas have antiviral and antibacterial properties that can aid to prevent you from getting sick. Whether you’re worried about flu season, or just want to improve your overall health, a daily tea schedule will benefit you.

By incorporating tea into your lifestyle, not only is it a refreshing & aromatic treat, but there is also a myriad of benefits designed to elevate your life. So, get ready to enjoy a flavoursome and sensorial tea experience from the very first sip.