What is Marrakesh Mint tea?

Marrakesh Mint tea is a type of tea typically made with gunpowder tea, fresh spearmint leaves, and lots of sugar. It’s served in small cups and it’s strong and sweet. Typically, it’s simmered rather than brewed. The first infusion lasts only a few seconds and is discarded, both to wash the leaves and reduce bitterness. Marrakesh mint tea is usually made with spearmint, which has a sweeter and less minty flavour than peppermint. However, there are no rules when it comes to tea blends. They may include different green teas, and different types of mint, too. Tea blends are not pre-sweetened and blended to give a distinctive flavour without the need to add sugar.

What’s in Teapigs Marrakesh Mint tea?

Teapigs mint blend contains Chinese chun mee (or zhen mei) green tea, which has a similar flavour to gunpowder, but slightly fresher and sharper, with a bit more smokiness. Just like gunpowder, it also brews into a strong tea with a darker colour. Gunpowder and chun mee green teas are two of the most commonly used teas for blending. They go well with a whole range of ingredients – from floral to fruity, chocolaty and spicy.

This tea contains 76% of chunmee tea and 24% of peppermint. It’s made with loose tea leaves rather than tea dust. What’s great about pyramid tea bags is that they will give exactly the same flavour as loose tea, plus they are easy brewing. Each tea pyramid bag contains 2.5 grams of tea, slightly over one heaped teaspoon.

What does it taste like?

Both gunpowder and chunmee tea will have a light bitterness when brewed over 3 minutes. Water temperature is extremely important too. You can brew this tea in 3 different ways, depending on your preferences:

1. Brew it 1-2 minutes at 80 degrees Celsius if you want to drink it pure.
2. Cold brew it in the fridge – this tea is perfect for cold brewing.
3. Brew it for 3 minutes if you want to add lots of sugar or serve it iced.

Neither green tea nor mint is overpowering in this blend. When brewed traditionally with hot water, peppermint is dominating the scent of brewed tea. Flavour is quite light, slightly lighter than it would be if you used fresh mint. It’s less sharp and more sweet than fresh mint too. There’s also a dose of astringency, which is common for chunmee teas.

Mint is dominating the flavour as well, blended with smoky and mellow chunmee base notes. Because of a light astringency, Marrakesh mint tea leaves a strong sweet and refreshing minty aftertaste. If you don’t like astringent teas but want to avoid adding sugar, try cold brewing it instead.  

This tea is a good choice for tea drinkers that enjoy mint teas, but don’t mind stronger green tea flavours with a light astringency. It’s a great after meal tea if you want something more than just mint, and great if you don’t like to add sugar to tea. However, it’s also great for making iced teas. When preparing it iced, steep it slightly longer and add a sweetener, sugar or honey.

Tea Recap

Water or milk? Water.

Day or night? Day.

Hot or iced? Hot or cold.

Sweetened or pure? Pure or sweetened.

Caffeine? Yes.

What’s the price? Starting from 2.00 GBP.

Where to buy? Get it from the Teapigs website or Teapigs Amazon store.

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What’s in Nearly Nirvana?

Neary Nirvana is blended with green tea, jasmine scented silver needle tea, jasmine blossoms, spearmint and orange blossoms. Mint and jasmine are not a common combination, and it may even sound quite unusual. But spearmint, which is less often used in tea blends than peppermint, has a much lower content of menthol. Menthol is a compound that gives a strong and pungent minty flavour. That’s why spearmint is fresh but milder, so it won’t overpower other flavours.

Another interesting ingredient in this tea are orange blossoms. They are also not too common in tea blends and are mostly present in calming sleepy time teas. Interestingly, both orange blossoms and jasmine may help reduce anxiety.

Lightness, relaxation and delightful scent make Nearly Nirvana worthy of its name for sure. The scent of jasmine is beautiful and dominates over the scent of dry white and green tea leaves. Mint feels like a background base note only, giving freshness without turning this blend into a strong mint tea.

Since this is a blend of white and green tea, it contains caffeine. Both green and white tea may be higher in caffeine than black tea, so keep that in mind if caffeine content is important to you.

Nearly Nirvana is available as loose tea and in pyramid tea bags.

What does Nearly Nirvana taste like?

Nearly Nirvana is a blend of green and white tea, so lower water temperature is recommended. Steep it for 2-3 minutes at 80 degrees Celsius.

This mint and jasmine tea is light and delicate, with no bitterness. Mint and jasmine are perfectly balanced, with mint giving a refreshing lightness and jasmine adding a floral touch. Green tea serves as a wonderful base, giving depth to this blend. There are zero traces of bitterness. It really is light and heavenly and feels more like a white tea blend than green tea.

This is a very, very easy to drink tea. Mint and jasmine are not a common combination, but after trying this blend, you’ll think they definitely should be. They really go well together. You can re-steep the same tea bag at least once, depending on how long you steep it for.

Who would like this tea? This blend is great for tea drinkers that love jasmine teas but don’t like the bitterness that comes with some jasmine blends. It’s great for daily sipping and afternoon tea times.

Tea Recap

Water or milk? Water.

Day or night? Day.

Hot or iced? Hot or cold.

Sweetened or Pure? Pure.

Caffeine? Yes.

What’s the price? Starting from 3.50 GBP.

Where to buy? Get it from the Bird and Blend website.

The post Nearly Nirvana Mint and Jasmine Tea – Bird and Blend appeared first on All That Tea.

But there’s a catch (as there always is with tea).

Gunpowder tea is not supposed to be gentle or delicate or have delicate fresh or steamed veggies notes.

It’s supposed to be strong and bold.

And that’s exactly what makes it a perfect choice for making some truly unique drinks.

Why gunpowder tea is so common?

Gunpowder tea is still one of the most common tea in western countries. Many green tea blends contain either gunpowder, chun mei or sencha tea. However, gunpowder is not as common in its country of origin — China. Since the historic times, most tea came from China. Each country where tea spread developed their own tea drinking rituals and habits. Gunpowder was one of those teas that reached many countries a long time ago, and it stayed. At the same time, other green teas were not as common in the west and they started gaining in popularity only a couple of decades ago. But gunpowder green tea is different. Its robust character made it perfect for customisation and preparing using different brewing techniques.

Why is gunpowder tea called gunpowder?

Tea names, especially of Chinese teas, are often unique and very interesting. Gunpowder is one of those teas, too. If you are new to tea, rest assured, there is absolutely no gunpowder in gunpowder tea. The name comes from the shape of the leaf. Gunpowder green tea leaves are rolled into tight little pellets and have a green/grey colour. Some types may have bigger loosely shaped leaves and other will be small and compact.

Other name for gunpowder is zhucha or pearl tea. This is not to be confused with Dragon Pearl tea, which is a completely different type of tea. This tea is often available under two other names – Pinhead gunpowder tea and temple of heaven green tea.

What does gunpowder tea taste like?

Gunpowder is much stronger than many other Chinese green teas. Even though it’s one of the most widely available green teas, its flavour is an exception, rather than a rule among Chinese green teas. It’s strong, dark green-yellow, smooth and full-bodied, with a smoky and sometimes bitter note. Gunpowder tea brewing is not always easy, especially if you want to avoid bitterness. Bitterness is usually more pronounced when the tea is steeped too long. While bitterness and strength may not be as inviting if you want to enjoy your tea pure, this flavour profile is actually great for making many drinks.

Which ones?

5 ways to use gunpowder tea

Some of the most popular ways of enjoying gunpowder tea have a long history and cultural importance. One of them is Moroccan mint tea, a very delicious, sweet green tea with mint.

1. Use it for making Moroccan mint tea

Moroccan mint tea of Maghrebi Mint tea is a type of strong and sweet drink made with gunpowder tea and nana mint (spearmint). Moroccan mint tea is more than just a cup of green tea with mint. It’s made using a special tea pot, simmer instead of brewed, and includes several steps to make it properly. It’s served from smaller glass cups, and it’s both sweet and strong.

Moroccan mint tea tastes great, both hot and cold, although it’s traditionally served hot. It’s common in many countries, and while the authentic mint tea is made from a scratch, there are many pre-made blends that taste great too.

2. Use it for making pink tea

Pink tea or Kashmiri chai is a truly beautiful type of milk tea with a beautiful pink colour. Although the colour is pink, it’s actually made from green tea. Gunpowder is a brilliant choice for making this tea – it goes really well with milk and has a deep and complex flavour that can be enriched with spices. Pink chai is made by simmering green tea leaves in a saucepan, then adding a pinch of bicarbonate of soda. This will change the colour to deep red, and then adding milk will turn it into pink.

Check out the easiest way to make iced pink tea.

3. Make iced tea or sweet tea

Gunpowder is one of the best teas for making a proper iced tea or sweet tea. Because of its strength, it can handle a lot of ice. It also blends really well with many ingredients, especially citruses and other fruits and herbs. When making an iced tea, add double the amount of tea leaves and steep for 5-10 minutes.  

4. Make a green chai

Gunpowder is one of the rare green teas that go exceptionally well with milk and it’s just perfect for making a green chai or green masala chai. You can use it instead of black tea and follow exactly the same steps and till get a super delicious green masala chai. Try doing the same using sencha and you may be disappointed – most of the times it’s too grassy to be blended with milk. Green chai is similar to pink chai except there’s no bicarbonate of soda to change the colour. To make a green masala chai, add your favourite spices, such as cardamom, cinnamon, cloves and ginger.  

Learn how to make Masala chai from a scratch.

5. Cold brew it with fresh herbs

Cold brewing is another thing that you need to try with gunpowder tea. This brewing method changes the flavour profile of green tea, making it less bitter and more refreshing. If you’re not really into sweet or milky drinks, then this is the perfect way to use gunpowder tea. Try adding some fresh herbs such as thyme, rosemary or basil too. You’ll get a super refreshing, light and aromatic tea that you can sip all day long.

Not sure how to cold brew the perfect cup of tea? Learn it here.

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How to make Mint Matcha Latte

To make this latte, you will need Japanese matcha tea powder, fresh mint, water, milk and, optionally, a sweetener.

Mint – use fresh mint if possible. Dry mint is much stronger, with a very different flavour profile than fresh mint. You only want to add hints of mint. Fresh mint won’t change the colour of the water, so you will end up with a beautiful, naturally flavoured green latte.

Matcha powder – although you can use any matcha powder, teas with a fresher grassy flavour profile and bright green colour will give the best results. Always use only matcha powder that has a lot of flavour and fresh scent.

Milk – whole milk is usually a better choice for making lattes than semi-skimmed or skimmed milk. You can replace regular milk with a dairy free milk alternative too. Choose milk with neutral flavour, preferably a barista style, as they tend to froth better. Also, some milk alternatives may already be very sweet. Check the flavour before adding additional sweeteners.

Sweetener – choose neutral sweeteners such as white sugar or very light floral honey. Regular milk already has enough sweetness, so unless you prefer really sweet drinks, you can avoid this step.

What type of mint should I use?

There are many types of mint, with peppermint and spearmint being the most common ones. You can choose either, but keep in mind that they have a different flavour profile. Peppermint has a stronger, sharper flavour than spearmint, which is sweeter and lighter. If possible, use fresh mint because it will give a much fresher, brighter and lighter flavour than dried mint. You don’t need to use too much as you only want to scent your latte lightly and not overpower it with minty flavour.

If you don’t have any fresh mint, flavour drops may work well too, better than dry mint. However, opt for those that don’t contain any colourings and add only a drop or two. Intensely green coloured mint flavour drops blended with matcha powder will give a very artificial colour.

When to froth the milk?

To make a proper latte, it’s always best to steam and froth the milk before adding it to tea. Since matcha is very green and naturally frothy, it will be more difficult to get a clean line between tea and the froth. You can froth it once you blend the tea and hot milk and get a green drink with green froth instead.  

Print

Mint Matcha Latte Recipe

Fresh, vibrant and green matcha latte

Course Drinks

Keyword Matcha, Mint

Prep Time 10 minutes minutes

Servings 1

Equipment

• electric hand frother
• cup

Ingredients

• 80 ml of water
• 150 ml of whole milk
• 2 smaller fresh mint sprigs
• ½ teaspoon of matcha powder

Instructions

• Bring fresh water to a boil.
• Wash fresh mint leaves and steep them in 80 ml of freshly boiled water for 5 minutes.
• Sift ½ teaspoon of matcha powder into a cup. Add 2 teaspoons of water and make a thick paste with no lumps.
• Remove mint leaves and pour the mint tea into a cup with matcha paste.
• Froth it using a whisk or an electric frother. If you are using a sweetener, add it now and stir.  
• Heat the milk, but don’t let it boil.
• Pour the milk into the cup with matcha tea and froth it using an electric hand frother.

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What is Choffee Mint tea?

Choffee Mint tea is a beautiful blend crafted with Sri Lankan black tea, whole coffee beans, cocoa husks, cocoa nibs, roasted dandelion root, peppermint and flavouring. It smells delicious – deep and chocolaty, with minty note and hints of coffee. Think of dark mint chocolate but without sugary sweetness, and that’s exactly what this tea smells like.

Mint and black tea are a less common pair than mint and green tea, but they complement each other really well. The ingredients in Choffee Mint tea make it a brilliant afternoon (or after lunch) tea. Mint may help aid digestion and promote relaxation (Source: ScienceDirect) and both tea and coffee contain caffeine and may help boost energy. This makes it a perfect blend for afternoons when all you want to do is take a nap but you can’t affor it. What’s great about this tea is that it’s blended exceptionally well – all ingredients have their purpose and contribute to the flavour without being overpowering. Roasted dandelion root is often used as a coffee alternative because of its toasty and deep flavour. And then, there are also cocoa husks and cocoa nibs that give a delicate chocolate note, without extreme sweetness. Choffee Mint doesn’t contain added sugar and is suitable for vegetarians.

How to brew Choffee Mint tea?

This tea is available as loose tea in pyramid tea bags, refill pouches and caddies. Steep one teaspoon of one pyramid tea bag in a cup of water (150-200 ml) for 3-5 minutes with boiling water. Choffee Mint has an incredibly deep flavour, with only a slight astringency, dominant dark chocolate note and minty aftertaste. Coffee adds depth, but even if you are not a coffee drinker, this tea will win you over. What’s surprising is that all the ingredients in this Choffee Mint tea have a natural light bitterness, but brewed tea is not bitter at all. It tastes great with no condiments, but you can drink it with some milk and brown sugar, too. Depending on how long you steep it for, you can re-use the same tea leaves one more time. Choffee Mint is both an office blend and a dessert blend for an afternoon tea. It offers refreshment, an energy boost, a very delicious flavour, and it’s easy to brew.

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What is Orange Ice Cream tea?

Orange Ice Cream is an herbal/fruit tea blend from the UK based tea company BRUU. Sweet treats inspired many of BRUU’s blends, such as Lemon Waffle or Strawberry Milkshake. Even though Orange Ice Cream is a herbal tea blend, it’s far from a typical herbal tea. Not only it has a unique scent, it also contains a surprising ingredient. Which one? We’ll come to that soon. So, how does Orange Ice Cream tea smell like?

This tea has a very intense and interesting scent – both fruit and herbal. Forget typical mint, herbaceous or fruity notes – Orange Ice Cream tea is unique. Of course, all these scents are there – a herbal touch, undeniable citrusy body and deep freshness, but they all blend well together to create a whole new experience. The scent is sweet, zesty and fresh with hints of creaminess.

Orange Ice Cream tea is blended with apple pieces, sour apple pieces, freeze-dried whole cape gooseberries, spearmint, marigold blossoms, safflowers and flavourings. With so many colourful ingredients, this is a very pretty-looking blend, too. One of the most interesting ingredients and the one you will instantly notice are cape gooseberries. Other name for this fruit is Physalis peruviana, and it’s quite a rare ingredient in tea blends.

Another interesting ingredient in this tea is nana mint, a spearmint from Morocco. Spearmint has a lighter and sweeter, less sharp flavour than peppermint, and it’s less commonly used too. It gives a real icy touch to this blend – not strong, not overpowering, but just enough to make it smell icy.

How to brew this tea

Since this is an herbal/fruit tea, you can brew it with boiling water. One teaspoon will be enough to make a cup of tea. Bruu recommends steeping it for 10-12 minutes.

This tea has a pretty light yellow-orange colour. It has a deep but light sweetness, hints of mint, slight zestiness and a creamy touch, with a light sweet aftertaste. It’s not a sweet tea though, although it has a light natural sweetness. Orange Ice Cream tea is flavourful but light, and strong enough to serve it iced. If you want to make an iced tea, try steeping it with a freshly sliced orange and sweeten with some honey.

This is not a regular mint tea or a regular orange tea. It’s not a regular herbal tea or a regular fruit tea. It’s right in between. Because of its unique flavour, you may like it even if you don’t like mint teas or orange teas. This tea would be great for tea drinkers that like to drink flavourful herbal caffeine-free iced teas.

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