Make Your Own Vanilla Infused Black Tea
A while back I was scouring the internet for places to buy flavored bulk tea from. Preferably organic and Fair Trade. But I was having a bugger of a time finding exactly what I was looking for. So I decided to do a little experimenting in my kitchen to see if I could flavor my own black tea without any artificial flavors!
Experiment #1 was a total success because this vanilla infused black tea is incredible. It’s so smooth and just the right amount of vanilla.
Vanilla Infused Black Tea
Ingredients
1/2 cup loose black tea (I personally love Assam, but use what you prefer)
1 whole vanilla bean
Directions
Measure out the black tea and put it in a glass jar that has a lid. Small mason jars work great.
Using either a knife or scissors, carefully slice the vanilla bean the long way so you have two long halves.
Carefully snip the vanilla bean into small little pieces (about rice size or slightly larger) directly into the black tea.
Place your lid on the jar and shake it up to evenly disperse the vanilla pieces.
And now you wait! Eventually the vanilla pieces become dried out and hard as the black tea takes on the flavor. You can let it meld together as long as you wish, but I recommend waiting at least a couple weeks before brewing your first batch. I actually forgot about mine and it sat for over 6 months. WOW was it delicious when I finally remembered to brew a cup.
Store it like any other loose leaf tea, in a tightly sealed container, away from direct sunlight and extreme temperatures.
How to Brew loose leaf black tea
Use about 1/2 to 1 teaspoon of the tea blend per 8 oz of water. Bring your water to a boil and pour it over the tea. I like to use a metal strainer that sits right in the mug. Then I fill the cup up with water and let it steep for about 3-5 minutes. Discard the tea and sweeten if desired.
WHERE TO PURCHASE
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