As avid chocolate lovers, we can confidently say that drinking chocolate is a favourite after tea. Not only is it rich and delicious, but it also has a long and fascinating history that dates to ancient civilizations. With Easter quickly approaching, we can't think of a better way to celebrate the occasion than with a warm cup of drinking chocolate.

Drinking Chocolate and Its History

Drinking chocolate, also known as hot chocolate, is a beverage made from melted chocolate or cocoa powder and milk or water. It has been enjoyed for thousands of years and was first consumed by the ancient Mayans and Aztecs in Central America. They believed that chocolate was a gift from the gods and used it in religious ceremonies and as a form of currency.

When the Spanish arrived in Central America in the 16th century, they introduced chocolate to Europe, where it quickly became popular among the wealthy. Over time, drinking chocolate evolved and new variations were created, including the addition of sugar, spices, and whipped cream.

Today, drinking chocolate is enjoyed all over the world and is a beloved treat during the Easter season.

How to Make Homemade Drinking Chocolate

Making homemade drinking chocolate is easy and can be done with just a few simple ingredients.

Ingredients:  2 cups of milk (or your preferred choice) - 4 oz of chocolate (chopped or in chip form) - 1 tablespoon of sugar (optional)

How to make:

• In a medium saucepan, heat the milk over medium heat until it starts to steam.
• Add the chocolate and stir until it's melted and combined with the milk.
• If desired, add sugar and continue stirring until it's completely dissolved.
• Remove from heat and serve immediately.
• This basic recipe can be customized to your liking by adding different flavors such as vanilla extract, cinnamon, or even a pinch of cayenne pepper for a spicy kick.

Pairing Drinking Chocolate with Easter Treats

Drinking chocolate is the perfect complement to any Easter treat. Whether you're enjoying a slice of carrot cake or a handful of jellybeans, a warm cup of drinking chocolate is sure to satisfy your sweet tooth. Here are a few of our favorite pairings:

• Dark chocolate drinking chocolate with a slice of chocolate cake.
• White chocolate drinking chocolate with a lemon tart.
• Spicy drinking chocolate with a cinnamon roll.
• Mint drinking chocolate with a chocolate egg.

Where to Buy Quality Drinking Chocolate

While making homemade drinking chocolate is always a treat, sometimes you just want to sit back and enjoy a pre-made cup.  When shopping for drinking chocolate, you must always look for a brand that uses high quality ingredients and has a rich smooth, texture.

Tea Drop’s premium drinking chocolate comes perfectly blended with the finest West African cocoa powder and raw Australian cane sugar for a melt-in-the-mouth drinking experience, complete with hints of fruit and raw sweetness. Indulgent, silky from the high cocoa butter content, the flavour of deep, classic chocolate lingers on your taste buds.

Unique and Delicious Hot Chocolate Recipes for Easter

While a classic cup of homemade drinking chocolate is always delicious, why not switch things up and try a unique and festive recipe for Easter? Here are a few our favorites:

• Cadbury Crème Egg Hot Chocolate

Ingredients: - 2 cups of milk of your choice, 40gs of Tea Drop Artisan Drinking Chocolate, 2 Cadbury Creme Eggs & Whipped cream (optional)

Instructions: In a medium saucepan, heat the milk over medium heat until it starts to steam. 2. Add the chocolate and Cadbury Creme Eggs and stir until they're melted and combined with the milk. 3. Remove from heat and pour into mugs. 4. Top with whipped cream and enjoy!

• Carrot Cake Hot Chocolate

Ingredients: - 2 cups of milk of your choice, 40g Tea Drop Artisan Drinking Chocolate, 1/2 cup of carrot juice , 2 tbs of Tea Drop chai concentrate & Whipped cream (optional)

Instructions:  In a medium saucepan, heat the milk over medium heat until it starts to steam. 2. Add the chocolate, carrot juice, and chai concentrate and stir and combine with the milk. 3. Remove from heat and pour into mugs. 4. Top with whipped cream and a sprinkle of cinnamon and enjoy!

• Marshmallow Hot Chocolate

Ingredients: - 2 cups of milk of your choice, 40g of Tea Drop Artisan Drinking chocolate, 4 marshmallow squares & Whipped cream (optional)

Instructions: In a medium saucepan, heat the milk over medium heat until it starts to steam.  Add the chocolate and marshmallow and stir until they're melted and combined with the milk. Remove from heat and pour into mugs. Top with whipped cream and more marshmallows and enjoy!

Try out one of the above drinking chocolate recipes and let us know which one is your favourite!

Drinking Chocolate Gift Ideas for Easter

If you're looking for a unique and delicious Easter gift, consider giving the gift of drinking chocolate. Here are a few ideas to get you started:

• A gift basket filled with Tea Drop’s Artisan Drinking Chocolate, Honey Spice Sticky Chai and Easter candy.
• A set of festive mugs and Tea Drop’s Artisan Drinking Chocolate & Parisian Vanilla
• A hot chocolate bomb kit with instructions for making homemade hot chocolate bombs.

Tips for Serving the Perfect Cup of Drinking Chocolate

Serving the perfect cup of drinking chocolate is all about attention to detail. Here are a few tips to help you achieve chocolate perfection:

• Use high-quality ingredients.
• Heat the milk slowly to prevent scorching.
• Stir constantly to prevent lumps and ensure a smooth texture.
• Serve in a pre-warmed mug.
• Top with whipped cream, marshmallows, or other toppings of your choice

Why Drinking Chocolate is the Perfect Addition to Your Easter Celebration

Drinking chocolate has a rich and fascinating history and is the perfect addition to any Easter celebration. Whether you're enjoying a classic cup of homemade hot chocolate or trying out a unique and festive recipe, drinking chocolate is sure to satisfy your sweet tooth. Pair it with your favorite Easter treats, give it as a gift, or serve it up as the perfect ending to your Easter meal. No matter how you choose to enjoy it, drinking chocolate is a delicious and decadent way to celebrate the holiday season.

 

 

We are particular about tea. It follows that we are particular about everything that surrounds it.

This June, we set out to complete the ritual. The leaf was already there. What it needed was the right vessel.

Robert Gordon has been designing and making pottery in Australia since 1945. Tea Drop has been sourcing tea for three generations. Two names shaped by time, devotion, and the refusal to do things any other way.

When we came across the Robert Gordon Ceylon Cup & Saucer, the choice was easy. This is the cup we would have chosen for ourselves.

It is not coincidence that Robert Gordon named it the Ceylon. 
In Sri Lanka, once known to the world as Ceylon, tea is not a habit. It is a heritage.

Tea Drop's Royal Ceylon Breakfast is sourced from the Ruhuna region, where the humid air and rich red soils produce a leaf that is full-bodied, malty, and best welcomed with milk on a slow morning.

The cup was made for this tea. The tea was grown for this cup.

Tea Drop curates the ritual. Robert Gordon makes the vessel. This June, every order over $90 has included one, complimentary — because some rituals deserve the right vessel.

Only seven days left.

Begin your ritual

There’s something truly magical about pairing tea-infused desserts with a refreshing iced tea. The balance of warm, aromatic notes in a cake with the crisp, fruity essence of a chilled tea creates an experience worth savouring. Today, we’re sharing a delightful combination: Berry Glazed Earl Grey Tea Cake paired with Sweet Peach Iced Tea—a match made in tea heaven!

Why Tea & Dessert Pairings Work

Tea and desserts complement each other in unique ways. The tannins in tea balance the sweetness of baked goods, while their natural flavours enhance one another. Pairing the right tea with a dessert can elevate both elements, making each bite and sip more enjoyable.

The Dessert: Berry Glazed Earl Grey Tea Cake

This tender, flavourful cake is infused with Supreme Earl Grey, featuring black tea, citrusy bergamot, and a hint of floral elegance. The richness of the cake is beautifully contrasted by a vibrant berry glaze, creating a dessert that is both indulgent and refreshing.

Recipe: Berry Glazed Earl Grey Tea Cake by Elise Pulbrook

Cake Ingredients:

• 220g sugar

• 2 large eggs

• 200g natural yoghurt

• 5 tbsp bergamot-infused olive oil

• 1 tsp vanilla extract

• 3 tbsp Supreme Earl Grey tea

• 200g melted butter

• 250g plain flour

• 1 tsp salt

• 2 tsp baking powder

Method:

1. Blitz the sugar and eggs in a food processor until smooth.

2. Add the yoghurt, infused olive oil, and vanilla extract. Blitz to combine.

3. Add the remaining ingredients and blitz until just combined (less than 3 seconds).

4. Pour into a lined cake tin and bake at 180°C for 30 minutes, or until a skewer inserted in the centre comes out clean. Allow to cool in the tin.

Glaze Ingredients:

• 1/4 cup strawberries, mashed

• 2 blackberries, mashed

• 3/4 cup icing sugar (powdered sugar)

Method:

1. Mash the strawberries and blackberries together in a bowl until you have a chunky puree.

2. Sift the icing sugar into the puree and mix until smooth.

3. Drizzle the glaze over your cake and let it set before serving.

A refreshing glass of Sweet Peach Iced Tea perfectly complements the richness of the cake. Its naturally sweet, fruity notes bring a light and refreshing contrast to the buttery texture of the dessert.

For the best results, we recommend using the Tea Drop Tea Maker to brew your Sweet Peach Iced Tea effortlessly. For detailed brewing instructions, visit our Sweet Peach Tea page to learn more.

The next time you’re hosting an afternoon tea or looking for a special treat, try pairing a tea-infused dessert with a complementary iced tea. The Berry Glazed Earl Grey Tea Cake and Sweet Peach Iced Tea combination is sure to impress, offering a symphony of flavours in every bite and sip.

Cheers to tea, cake, and perfect pairings!

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.

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.