From Teacups To Cocktails

Teacups

I generally don’t play favourites, but I do love a good cup of black tea. It’s the one thing that gets me going in the morning, keeps me energised through the afternoon, and then says good night. However, more on my favourite tea later! Right now, let’s dive into some interesting facts about tea.

Black tea

All traditional teas originate from the Camelia sinesis plant, with leaves that are carefully plucked, processed, and sorted by type below.

For black tea, the leaves are first withered, then rolled, oxidised, and dried. This oxidation process gives black tea its dark colour and robust, malty flavour. Black tea is fully oxidised, resulting in the highest caffeine content among teas—making it a perfect “wake-up” drink for the morning.

Green Tea

Green tea offers a fresh, delicate flavour that’s perfect for mixing. Prepared by steaming the leaves to prevent oxidation, green tea retains its vibrant colour and a light, grassy or vegetal taste. It’s lower in caffeine and rich in antioxidants and L-theanine, which can enhance mental clarity and promote a calm state of mind—qualities that make green tea a soothing, refreshing choice for any drink.

Oolong Tea

Oolong tea, sitting between green and black tea, is partially oxidised, creating a broad range of flavours. The oxidation level varies widely, so oolong offers everything from light floral to rich, toasty notes, making it the best choice for a roasty, toasty flavour profile. With mid-range caffeine, it’s an ideal afternoon pick-me-up.

White Tea

White tea undergoes the least processing among all tea types. Made from buds and young leaves, it retains a delicate, natural flavour that is subtle, sweet, and often floral. Silver Needles white tea, one of the finest, is best enjoyed on a clean palate to appreciate its gentle nuances.

Pu-erh is a fermented tea from China, crafted from aged tea leaves pressed into cakes. When brewed, it reveals a rich, earthy flavour. Considered a delicacy, it often comes with a price tag to match, but for tea lovers, it’s well worth the experience.

Tea Blends

These tea types can also be blended with other teas or flavouring agents, like bergamot in Earl Grey or spices in Chai. From ginger tea for soothing tummy upsets to rosehip tea for joint health, there’s a tea blend for every moment and all that ails. As we say, “From Teacups to Cocktails,” tea’s versatility truly shines across every sip and mix.

Herbal Tea

Let us not forget the humble herbal teas like chamomile, mint, lemon verbena which have been around for much longer and are often used by tea blenders to create more nuanced tea flavours. So, if you love a particular tea flavour it is going to be fun to take it from a teacup to a cocktail.

Traditional Tea

From a strong cup of Irish or English breakfast brewed in a teapot to kickstart my day, to a flavoured Earl Grey or Oolong pick me up in the afternoon (when it’s too early for a gin and tonic). A gentle way to unwind before bed is sipping on a chamomile and lavender tea latte. I also been known to use herbal blends with ashwagandha for wellness, yerba mate when I need an energy boost.

Tea Customs

From my travels abroad I have picked up skills in certain styles of tea making and can boast that I make a great mint tea.  Brewed with gunpowder green tea and handfuls of fresh mint, the key to a perfect cup of mint tea is aeration.  Pouring the tea from a height is the traditional Moroccan custom. Better still brew the tea in an authentic silver Moroccan tea pot is a sensory experience worth trying.

There is no doubt in my mind that sharing a cup of tea with friends is one of the great pleasures to be had in life.

Everyday Tea

From Dilmah’s Ceylon Breakfast, Lipton’s English Breakfast to Twining’s Darjeeling there has always been plenty of choice on the mainstream supermarkets but if you want to go upmarket T2 Tea is a specialty store that stocks delicious teas of all varieties and blends.

My favourite, every day, straight up, black tea flavours are Orange Pekoe, Darjeeling and Assam. Melbourne Breakfast and French Earl Grey blends are special treats. However, anyone who has spent time with me knows that I will never say no to a cuppa whatever the brand, tea variety or time of day. I drink at least 4-6 cups of tea a day which makes me a tea addict if there is there such a thing?

Fermented Tea Beverages

Kombucha is a fermented tea beverage with a tangy, bubbly taste. Making it at home is simple: start by brewing tea, adding sugar, and introducing a SCOBY (symbiotic culture of bacteria and yeast). Place the sweetened tea in a dark, warm spot, and let the SCOBY work its magic, fermenting the sugars into kombucha.

The result is a refreshing drink with a small amount of alcohol, typically ranging from 0.5% to 3% ABV in commercial versions, depending on the brand. Classified as a non-alcoholic beverage, kombucha is exempt from excise tax, making it an accessible, lightly fermented treat.

No or low alcoholic beverages are a healthy option for happy hour drinks which makes fermented herbal teas like Darjeeling Blush made by Hairy Armadillo well worth a try or save some money and buy yourself a eco friendly soda stream to add bubbles to your favourite tea flavours.

Get ready to turn some delicious teas into tea cocktails.

Tea Cocktails

Tea can be more than just a beverage—it’s a versatile ingredient that adds botanical flavours to drinks. For example, spirits can easily be infused with tea, bringing an extra layer of complexity. Brewed tea can also serve as a unique mixer, enhancing cocktails and mocktails alike.

Today, many mixologists on Instagram are experimenting with tea-infused flavors, creating exciting and innovative cocktail recipes. This is just another way to enjoy your favorite tea flavors while indulging in a boozy treat.

From Earl Grey-infused gin and tonics to matcha margaritas, the possibilities are endless. Tasty tea mocktails, on the other hand, offer a healthier alternative to traditional cocktails. They’re low in calories, packed with antioxidants, and perfect for enjoying any time of day.

“From Teacups to Cocktails,” tea can be enjoyed in endless ways!

Artisanal Tea

Looking to experiment with tea cocktails? “From Teacups to Cocktails,” we have some tasty recipes to kick off your mixology journey. As the unofficial queen of cups, I love collaborating—especially with tea blenders—to craft exciting, new flavour combinations. At Botanikos, experimenting with artisanal ingredients to create unique blends is our passion, and we do it all for your drinking pleasure…..

I am excited to be using The Urban Cottage tea blends.  With names Source, Ease, Soothsayer & Cottage Morning I am already whisked away to a happy place.  Get ready to put on the kettle and get out your teacups or cocktail glasses. We have created some tasty Tea Cocktail Recipes that will step up your drinking game. Here are three tea cocktail recipes to excite your palette.

Tea Cocktail #1: The Soothsayer

Ingredients

• 60ml gin (of choice)
• 30ml lemon juice
• 30ml lavender syrup
• 1/2 cup soothsayer (mint) tea
• 11 cucumber slices (approx. 1/3 cucumber)
• lavender sprig
• 4 ice cubes

Instructions:

1. Brew tea as per the instructions & leave to cool.
2. Place 10 cucumber slices, lemon juice, lavender syrup and tea into a blender.
3. Blend to puree cucumber
4. Add ice cubes to cocktail glass
5. Pour drink through a tea strainer to remove solids
6. Garnish with a slice of cucumber & lavender
7. Enjoy a refreshing cucumber mint cocktail