How to make granola?

What’s great about homemade granola is that you can make it in literally 2-3 minutes + drying time. You can make it as healthy or as indulgent as you want and choose from dozens of ingredients. Homemade granola won’t cost you a lot, and it will taste delicious.

Ingredients for making Christmas granola

To make this recipe, gather all the ingredients first.

Hazelnuts – First, dry roast hazelnuts in the oven for about 40 minutes at 120 degrees. While this step is not necessary, it will add more flavour to hazelnuts and you will be able to peel off the skin. The easiest way to crush them is to put them into a clean zip-lock bag or wrap them into a clean kitchen towel and use a kitchen mallet.

Oats – use either thick rolled or thin rolled oats, whichever you prefer the most. You can use both of them as well and even add some rye flakes too.

Chocolate – Chocolate will melt in the oven. If you don’t have chocolate drops, you can make white chocolate shreds from regular white chocolate.

Chai Syrup – Because of the warming spices, homemade chai syrup is a great binder for this granola. Learn how to make Chai Tea Syrup here.

Place all ingredients in a bowl except sprinkles and marshmallows. Adding marshmallows is an optional step. If you don’t like the flavour of marshmallow fluff, keep it out. If you use them, they are going to add additional sweetness, so adding a pinch of salt is a good idea to balance out the flavour.  

What’s the best temperature for baking granola?

While you may be tempted to speed up the process by increasing the oven temperature, don’t do it. Your granola may burn or bake unevenly. Keep the temperature at not over 120-130 degrees Celsius and check every 10 minutes. Half-way through, use a fork and gently crush and turn it so it bakes evenly.

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Easy Christmas Granola

Homemade granola with chai tea syrup

Course Breakfast

Keyword Black Tea, Chai, Tea Syrup

Prep Time 5 minutes minutes

Cook Time 40 minutes minutes

Equipment

• Baking tray
• Baking paper
• bowl
• Spoon

Ingredients

• 100 grams of oats
• 20-40 grams of white chocolate drops
• 40 grams of rice pops
• 40 grams of lightly roasted hazelnuts, crushed
• 10-12 spoons of Chai tea syrup
• Christmas sprinkles
• Marshmallows (optional)

Instructions

• Line a baking tray with baking paper.
• Put oats, rice pops, white chocolate drops and crushed hazelnuts into a bowl.
• Add tea syrup and mix. Consistency will depend on your tea syrup, but the syrup shouldn’t be dripping from the spoon once you mixed it. If you are using a thin syrup, you may want to use less.  
• Add marshmallows and mix (optional). Use either small marshmallows or cut them into smaller chunks so they melt evenly.
• Add sprinkles and gently mix.
• Spread granola on baking paper in a thin layer. It doesn’t need to be perfect, but spread it out evenly.
• Bake in the oven for 30-40 minutes at 120-130 degrees. It’s done when it’s crispy and light golden.
• Take it out from the oven, let it cool down and store in an airtight container.

The post Easy Christmas Granola appeared first on All That Tea.

What is Earl Grey syrup?

Earl Grey syrup is a simple sugar syrup made with brewed Earl Grey tea. Instead of being just sweet, it also has a recognizable Earl Grey flavour. Simple syrups are commonly used for sweetening cocktails and cold drinks because it will easily dissolve even in an icy cold drink.

The unique aromatic scent and flavour of Earl Grey tea come from bergamot orange peel; a citrus that’s mainly produced in Italy. Since bergamot flavour is always associated to Earl Grey tea, it’s rarely used for flavouring teas. In other words, all teas with a bergamot flavour will automatically be called Earl Grey teas.

The original Earl Grey is made with black tea, but today, you can use any Camellia sinensis tea to make an Earl Grey and some herbal teas, too. In fact, rooibos Earl Grey is the most common caffeine-free alternative to regular Earl Grey teas.

If you have 15 minutes to spare, this simple Earl Grey syrup recipe will open dozen of new opportunities to enjoy classic bergamot flavour in other drinks too.

8 simple ways to use Earl Grey tea syrup

1. Make simple popsicles

Earl Grey tea popsicles are super easy to make and taste absolutely amazing. If you are a fan of citrusy popsicles and want a simple treat that will take less than 5 minutes of your time, try out this recipe. Allow them to freeze overnight and use within a couple of weeks. They are great for summer tea parties when you need unique but simple treat that will take only a few minutes to make.

2. Use as a sweetener for homemade rice pudding

Who doesn’t like a good homemade rice pudding? The perfect rice pudding doesn’t need to be complicated. To make the simplest rice pudding, you will need only 3 ingredients – arborio or originario rice, milk and Earl Grey tea syrup instead of a sweetener.

3. Spice up your gin and tonic

A good gin and tonic is all about the right botanicals. A good Earl Grey is all about the right balance of bergamot and black tea flavour. Try adding ½ to 1 teaspoon of bergamot tea syrup to your gin and tonic and be ready for a surprise – they go exceptionally well together.

4. Add Earl Grey flavour to boba tea

A secret to making a flavourful boba tea are flavourful, chewy and sweet ingredients. A tea syrup can take care of the flavourful and sweet part. Use it to coat tapioca pearls and to add more flavour and sweetness to your boba tea. Even if you are using an Earl Grey black tea syrup, it will still go well with other types of tea, like rooibos or matcha green tea boba.

5. Sweeten your coffee with tea

Long gone are the times when mixing tea and coffee would be a weird thing to do. Today, coffee teas are anything but uncommon. Earl Grey sugar syrup can make any coffee latte taste more fragrant.

6. Use it for sweetening pure black iced tea

The easiest and fastest way to turn a pure black tea into an iced Earl Grey is by sweetening it with Earl Grey simple syrup. A great thing about tea syrups is that they will dissolve in cold water much easier than granulated sugar or honey.

7. Make an instant Earl Grey Syrup slushie

You know you can make a delicious, refreshing and fragrant slushie with only 3 ingredients – simple syrup, sparkling water and ice. Check out this recipe for an Instant Earl Grey Slushie.

8. Make your own granola with Earl Grey syrup

The benefit of making granola at home is that you can choose your own ingredients and get as creative as you wish. From rolled oats to rice pops, almonds to pecans, spices and citruses, the list is limitless. Use tea syrup as a binding agent – it will taste delicious.

Ready to try some of these ideas? Learn how to make a very simple tea syrup.

The post 8 simple ways to use Earl Grey syrup appeared first on All That Tea.

1. Cold brew tea with fresh herbs

Cold brewing tea in summer is one of the best ways to enjoy tea all day long. From stronger black teas to fresh greens, or caffeine free rooibos, there’s a perfect cold brew for everyone. And it takes no more than a minute of effort. You will have to let it steep, though. Steeping overnight will give the best flavour, but some teas may be ready in only 2-3 hours. Another plus? Cold-brewed tea has less caffeine than regular hot brewed tea.

2. Make Tea Jellies

And we don’t mean teddy bears only. Choose your favourite silicone mould and make tea jellies in any shape you want. You can serve them with ice cream or use them for decorating other summer desserts. Or, you can simply eat them.

3. Make Tea Ice

Instead of steeping tea in hot water, try adding tea ice cubes to a glass of cold water. Not only will it be icy cold, but it will also have a delicious light flavour that you can enjoy all day long. An extra idea? Make a fruit tea ice cubes and add them to a glass of cold brewed pure green or black tea.

Learn how to make tea ice.

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A tea frappe is super easy to make and utterly delicious. You will need a blender, milk, water, ice and your favourite tea. Optional ingredients are fresh fruits and sweeteners.

A super delicious idea? Triple Raspberry Black Tea Frappe.

5. Steep It in Milk To Make a Refreshing Milkshake

Can you steep tea in milk? Definitely. There are two ways to do, so try them both. One is great for making flavourful milkshakes, and the other is perfect for making a cold brew milk tea. You can choose from hundreds of flavours and turn regular milk or a milk alternative into something truly delicious.

Learn how to steep tea in milk.

6. Add Tea Syrups to Water

If you love mixinf fruit syrups with water to make fruity drinks, try a tea syrup too. You will need a tablespoon or more of your favourite tea syrup and icy cold water. Homemade tea syrups are very easy to make and it will last in a fridge for several weeks.

Recipe for Earl Grey Simple Syrup

7. Make a Tea Tonic

Heard about espresso tonic? Turns out, tea is just as amazing for making this truly refreshing drink. You can make it with tea powders or steeped tea.

Check out the recipe for a black tea tonic here.

8. Try Making Boba Tea at Home

Your favourite tea, some milk, and pre-made tapioca pearls served over ice is all it takes to make a delicious homemade boba tea. With the right ingredients, boba tea is both fun and easy to make.

Recipe for Strawberry Black Tea Boba.

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Making a simple tea syrup really is one of the best things you can do this summer. Why? Because it’s great for hundreds of drinks and desserts. Yes, for popsicles too. With a homemade tea sugar syrup you can make tea flavoured popsicles in literally 5 minutes. Plus, the freezing time, of course.

Learn how to make Earl Grey lemon popsicles.

The post 9 Super COOL Tea Ideas for Summer appeared first on All That Tea.

This recipe is super easy to make, requires only 3 basic ingredients, but we spiced it up with two more. And, it will take only 3 minutes of your time. We promise. That includes gathering ingredients and cleaning, too.

What is a slushie?

Slushie is a flavoured frozen mushy ice drink. It’s usually made with club soda, but sparkling water is a great alternative too. In fact, there’s a negligible difference between these two. Both are carbonated and calorie free, but spring water is naturally carbonated while the club soda isn’t. Both will be great for making tea slushies.

Do you need to brew tea for making Earl Grey Tea Slushie?

Summer is a season when many of us don’t really want to spend too much time cooking and that often includes brewing tea too. This recipe is brewing-free. Technically, this Earl Grey tea slushie is made with a homemade tea syrup, as an alternative to brewed tea. We used our favourite Earl Grey Simple Syrup preapred according to this recipe. It’s perfect for making slushies and frozen drinks because it’s very flavourful and, of course, sweet. You can make Earl Grey Tea Simple Syrup when you have more time – it will keep in the fridge for several weeks. If you are making it before trying out this recipe, let it cool down completely.

Instant Earl Grey Tea Slushie Recipe

So why is this an instant slushie? There’s no brewing, there’s no freezing, and you literally make it in only a couple of minutes. You will need a smoothie blender powerful enough to crush ice, a glass and a straw for serving. This recipe is for 2 smaller 150 ml glasses, or one larger 300 ml glass.

Is Earl Grey Slushie sweet?

We used just enough tea syrup to make it sweet enough, but still refreshing. If you like your drinks extra sweet, add more syrup. Keep in mind though, it will add more calories to your drink.

Updated: 22nd June 2023

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Instant Earl Grey Slushie

Refreshing tea slushie with the classic Earl Grey tea syrup.

Course Drinks

Keyword Earl Grey, Summer, Tea Syrup

Prep Time 5 minutes minutes

Servings 1 300 ml glass

Equipment

• Blender strong enough to crush the ice, most smoothie blenders will do that
• Spoon

Ingredients

• 10 large ice cubes
• 4 tbsp of Earl Grey tea syrup (or more if you want a sweeter slushie)
• freshly squeezed juice of 1/2 lime
• 1/2 tbsp of freshly squeezed ginger juice (optional)
• 3/4 cup sparkling water

Instructions

• Add ice, sparkling water, tea syrup, freshlysqueezed lime juice and ginger guide into a blender.
• Blend until the ice is crushed, for about 30-60 seconds.
• Pour into a glass and serve immediately.

Notes

Ginger juice is optional, but gives a nice zing to this slushie.

The post Simple Earl Grey Tea Slushie appeared first on All That Tea.

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.

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Creamy Popsicles with Chai Demerara Tea Syrup

Easy to make creamy popsicles with chai demerara sugar simple syrup.

Course Dessert

Keyword Popsicles

Prep Time 15 minutes minutes

Freezing time 6 hours hours

Total Time 6 hours hours 10 minutes minutes

Servings 4 popsicles

Equipment

• 4 popsicle moulds
• 4 popsicle sticks
• electric hand mixer
• bowl

Ingredients

• 10 tablespoons of heavy whipping cream
• 6 heaped tablespoons of full fat Greek yogurt
• 5-10 tablespoons of demerara sugar chai simple syrup

Instructions

• Add 10 full tablespoons of heavy whipping cream into a small but tall bowl.
• Using an electric mixer, whip it at low speed for a few minutes until solid and creamy. Do not over whip it.
• Add Greek yogurt and mix it with a spoon until it’s perfectly blended. This may take a minute or two.
• Add chai tea syrup and mix.
• Pour the popsicle mixture into moulds, and put a popsicle stick into each.
• Freeze for 6 hours, or until frozen.

The post How to Make Creamy Popsicles with Tea Syrup appeared first on All That Tea.

What is simple syrup?

Simple syrup is a sugar dissolved in water over heat. Simple syrup is usually quite thin and watery, but very sweet. It’s one of the best sweeteners for iced teas and frozen drinks as it will easily dissolve in water. Home-made simple syrup takes only 10 minutes to make and you can play with flavours and ratios until you find your favourite combination.

What is chai demerara simple syrup?

Chai demerara simple syrup is a sugar syrup made with demerara sugar instead of typical white refined sugar and masala chai blend. Demerara sugar is a sugarcane sugar with a light brown colour and texture similar to white refined sugar. It has a warmer nuttier flavour that goes well with masala chai teas. Demerara sugar usually comes from Mauritius. Masala chai is a type of Indian tea made with black tea leaves and spices such as cardamom, cinnamon, ginger, star anise, cloves and peppercorns.

Is it better using your own spices or a pre-made masala chai blend?

This will depend on your preferences and the type of tea you have. You can use pre-made chai blends, preferably with smaller broken leaves or CTC leaves. Make sure the blend is aromatic and intense, and brews into a full-bodied tea. Do not use murky and stale blends as that will impact the quality of the syrup. Always use only freshly brewed tea. You can also use chai blends that contain other ingredients, such as rose petals or fruits (we used Malabar Chai from Tea Drop). Alternatively, you can make your own masala chai blend using a strong black tea with broken leaves and spices such as cardamom, cinnamon, cloves and ginger.

What ratio should you use?

When working with sugar, getting ratios and temperatures right can be a problem. Thankfully, simple syrup is called simple for a reason – you don’t need to worry about ratios as long as you are using more sugar than water, preferably in a 1:1 ratio. Please keep in mind that this will mean sugar will weigh more than water. This syrup is thicker than Earl Grey simple syrup from this recipe.

How long do you need to cook Chai demerara simple syrup?

Simple syrup will be ready in 10 minutes. You can’t overboil it if you simmer it on low heat, and you can even add more sugar and keep simmering it if your syrup is too watery. Cooking it longer won’t make it thicker though, only adding more sugar will. Always simmer syrup on medium-low heat and check the consistency with a spoon.

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Chai Demerara Simple Syrup

Step-by-step guide to making a spicy & warming simple syrup

Course Drinks

Keyword Black Tea, Chai, Simple Syrup

Prep Time 10 minutes minutes

Cook Time 10 minutes minutes

Equipment

• small saucepan
• jar for storing the syrup
• Teaspoon
• Spoon
• Kettle
• disposable tea filter
• kitchen scale or a cup

Ingredients

• 3 heaped teaspoons of loose leaf chai blend
• 120 ml of freshly boiled water
• 150 grams of demerara sugar

Instructions

• Bring fresh water to a boil.
• Add 4 teaspoons of chai blend into a disposable tea filter.
• Steep tea in 120 ml of freshly boiled water for 5-10 minutes.
• Strain the tea into a small saucepan and add sugar.
• Turn on the heat and stir the sugar until dissolved.
• Once it's dissolved, simmer on medium heat for 5 more minutes.
• Pour into a jar and let it cool down before storing in the fridge.

The post Chai Demerara Simple Syrup appeared first on All That Tea.

We’ll come to reasons a bit later, but let’s start with explaining what a simple syrup is.

What is simple syrup?

Simple syrup, or sugar syrup, is sugar dissolved in water over low heat. It’s simple to make, great for sweetening drinks, and unlike granulated sugar, it will easily dissolve in iced drinks. You can buy one, or you can make one at home. If you ever tried making caramel, candied apples or other sugary treats, you may already know that sugar can be tricky. But thankfully, making a simple syrup really is – simple. It’s impossible to ruin it by overheating, and you don’t need to have a cooking thermometer.

What is the best ratio for making a simple syrup?

Simple syrup is usually made in ratio 1:1 – 1 cup of water and 1 cup of sugar. However, you can adjust ratios, as long as you are using more sugar than water. 1:1 ratio will give a very thin syrup, so we prefer to use just a tiny bit more. Thicker simple syrup is called rich simple syrup. Still, when making it at home, you don’t need to pay attention to exact ratios. The only thing to keep in mind is – never use more water than sugar.

How long do you need to cook simple syrup?

It will take less than 10 minutes to make a simple syrup and another 5-10 to brew the tea. Always use fresh spring of odourless tap water to make tea. You want to make a strong but tasty cup. There’s no danger of caramelisation, and it’s virtually impossible to ruin. The only thing to keep in mind is that you need to dissolve all the sugar.

What is the best use for an Earl Grey tea simple syrup?

Simple syrup is very versatile. You can use it for flavouring oatmeal, sweetening smoothies, making cocktails, or delicious icy popsicles. You can make tea simple syrup for cakes, or even for salads. Let it cool before storing it in the fridge. It will last for several weeks. And that’s exactly what makes Earl Grey a perfect choice. It’s flavourful, goes well with many dishes and has a recognizable flavour.

What type of sugar is best for making a simple syrup?

You can make a simple syrup with any type of sugar you want, but the flavour profile will change. Brown sugar has a warmer, nuttier flavour than neutral white sugar. We found that white sugar works well with Earl Grey teas to keep the flavour profile.

What type of tea is best for making Earl Grey tea simple syrup?

Not all Earl Grey teas are the same. Always use the tea that you would normally drink. If you don’t like the flavour, don’t use it for making simple syrups. Next, your Earl Grey tea must be strong and aromatic. It should also have smaller, broken leaves and fresh, intense scent and flavour.

Can you make a simple syrup with tea bags?

Yes, you can make a simple syrup with tea bags too. However, they must taste good as well. Teas with a more refined, intense flavour will give better results. Follow a simple rule – if you don’t like it, don’t use it. Replace each teaspoon with 1-1.5 tea bag.

Earl Grey Tea Simple Syrup Recipe

This recipe is enough for making about 20 spoons of simple syrup. Since making a new batch is very easy, you don’t need to make a large bottle at once. If you want to use it often, double the recipe.

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Earl Grey Tea Simple Syrup

How to make Earl Grey Tea Simpe Syrup at Home

Course Syrups

Keyword Earl Grey, Simple Syrup

Prep Time 5 minutes minutes

Cook Time 10 minutes minutes

Brewing time 10 minutes minutes

Total Time 25 minutes minutes

Servings 20 tablespoons

Equipment

• small saucepan
• jar for storing the syrup
• kitchen scale or a cup
• Kettle
• teapot, strainer or tea filter

Ingredients

• 3 heaped tea spoons of Earl Grey loose leaf tea
• 125 ml of water
• 150 grams of granulated white sugar

Instructions

• Bring fresh water to a boil.
• Steep tea leaves in boiled water for 10 minutes.
• Strain the tea into a small saucepan.
• Add sugar and heat over low fire while stirring.
• Once the sugar has dissolved, boil over medium heat for about 5 minutes.
• Turn off the heat and let it cool down.

The post Early Grey Tea Simple Syrup – A Must-Make Syrup for Summer appeared first on All That Tea.