How to Make Creamy Popsicles with Tea Syrup

Popsicles are not only for summer – they can also easily be an entire year treat. You can customize this simple creamy popsicles with tea syrup recipe and enjoy them year-round. Even the simplest, unflavoured, only slightly sweetened popsicle can be a real treat. In fact, you could even avoid all the sugar and choose a stevia-based tea syrup instead.

These recipe uses a pre-made tea sugar syrup. We used brown sugar simple chai syrup, but you can replace it with your favourite tea syrup.

Find a recipe for making a demerara sugar chai simple syrup here.

What are Tea Popsicles?

Popsicles are super easy to make and can be a great replacement for a regular ice cream. Tea popsicles are popsicles made with tea. For making popsicles, you can use almost any tea you want. The best teas are those with stronger flavours, spiced, citrusy and minty blends, fruit teas and rooibos blends. Even if you only have regular unflavoured black tea, you can add vanilla, rum or orange extracts to create a new flavour.

There are two basic types of popsicles – popsicles made with water and popsicles made with a cream base. Popsicles with water are easier to make and will have an icy and mushy texture. Cream-based popsicles are creamier, but they may have an icy texture too. Thankfully, there are several ways to avoid that.

The most common base for creamy homemade popsicle is a plain thick yogurt.

Can You Make Creamy Popsicles with Tea Syrup and Yogurt Only?

Yes, you can make a very simple popsicle by mixing honey or simple syrup with yogurt. We tested multiple techniques, and pure yogurt and syrup popsicles are simply not indulgent enough. They will freeze well, but they will also be more icy and less creamy. If you are in a rush and want to make popsicles in literally a minute, you can use this technique. Otherwise, we do advise to add one more ingredient – whipped cream.

Should Popsicles be Creamy?

Popsicles or ice lollies don't need to be as creamy as ice cream They can be made from fruit syrups and water, fruit purees or fruit powders and milk. You may prefer one type, or you may enjoy them all. This recipe is for creamier tea popsicles, but not as creamy as a real ice cream would be. They will still contain much less ice crystals than you would normally have if you simply froze yogurt.

Can You Make Popsicles Without Dairy Milk?

Yes, you can use plant-based yogurts too. Choose those with a thicker texture and higher fat content.

For a non-creamy popsicles, you can use a simple syrup only. Find the recipe for Earl Grey simple syrup popsicles here.  

How to Store Tea Popsicles?

The best way to store popsicles is in the original mould. Cover them with a cling foil or place in a zip-lock bag. Do not leave them uncovered for more than a day or two. They are best used within a week but may keep up to several weeks or even months.