I’m always looking for ways to enhance and customize my daily cups of tea.
My go-to tea is a bold black loose leaf – I love seeing those leaves dance and unfurl as the water passes over them. To give it a little extra oomph, I like to throw in a few fresh mint leaves. The cooling and sweet mint balances beautifully with the strong black tea.
For my green tea, I tend to get more experimental. This delicate tea can just be elevated by so many flavors. Some of my favorites are a cinnamon stick, which adds warmth, dried lemon slices for bright zing, or freshly grated ginger root if I’m feeling a little sick. I’m excited to share more of my favorite add-ins to really make your tea experience pop with flavor and personality in the tips below.
Table of Contents
Fresh Mint Added To Black or Green Tea
Mint is one of the most popular tea add-ins for good reason, and it’s my number one choice. I even planted mint in my garden so I’d always be able to grab a handful to add to my tea whenever I wanted.
Its refreshing aroma and cooling, grassy flavor perk up the cup. Peppermint and spearmint are especially nice choices. In Morocco, mint tea is a cherished daily tradition. Fresh spearmint leaves are added to hot green tea to create a refreshing and aromatic flavor. Moroccans often carefully rinse and pat dry the mint leaves before adding them to the teapot. The tea is then poured into delicate glasses from high above to swirl the ingredients and release the mint essence. Sipping mint tea throughout the day provides a burst of flavor and a moment of calm.
Add around 5-6 torn mint leaves per cup while the water is heating up. The leaves will infuse the tea with minty essence. You’ll get an extra strong hit of flavor if you gently muddle the leaves before steeping. Mint plays well with black, green or herbal teas.
Alternatives: Basil, lemon balm
Cinnamon Sticks Spice up any Tea
Warming cinnamon spice takes tea from ho-hum to spectacular. Simply add a cinnamon stick or a shake of ground cinnamon while brewing black, green or herbal tea. This amps up the flavor and gives it a delicious aroma. Cinnamon pairs nicely with fruit teas too. Try it with peach, blackberry or apple. Just a pinch of cinnamon can make your ordinary cup of tea suddenly vibrant and dynamic. Cinnamon is not only a delicious spice, but it also offers numerous health benefits due to its antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties.
Alternatives: Cardamom, ginger, nutmeg
Ginger For Taste and To Reduce Nausea
Ginger is another wonderful tea add-in. Its peppery sweet heat and smoothness enhance black, green or herbal blends. For strong ginger flavor, let slices of fresh ginger steep in just-boiled water for 5-10 minutes before adding tea leaves. Or simply add some grated or sliced ginger to the pot. The longer it steeps, the stronger the ginger taste will be. Ginger tea is great for providing comfort when you’re feeling under the weather and for reducing nausea.
Alternatives: Turmeric, galangal
Honey, The Natural Sweetener
Honey’s floral sweetness can make tea more intriguing. The taste can range from light and delicate to rich and molasses-y depending on the honey variety. Opt for raw honey for the most health benefits. Stir in just before drinking as high heat from boiling water can diminish antibacterial enzymes and nutrients in raw honey. Manuka honey adds a nice herbal quality. For best results, start with a small amount of honey and add more to suit your taste. Alternatives: Maple syrup, agave nectar
Lemon or Citrus in General For Tea
No tea enhancer list would be complete without lemon. A squeeze of fresh lemon can brighten any cup of tea. The bright acidity balances the tannins in black tea and brings out green tea’s natural flavors. Lemon also packs in vitamin C. Add a thin slice for a pretty garnish. For an extra lemony kick, steep a few dried lemon peel slivers along with the tea. Lemons perfectly complement fruity blends like peach, strawberry and blueberry.
Alternatives: Lime, blood orange
Vanilla is Great With Spiced Teas
Vanilla makes tea taste sweeter and more full-bodied without adding actual sugar. Simply add a drop or two of pure vanilla extract, scraped vanilla bean seeds, or a chopped piece of vanilla pod while brewing your favorite black, green, oolong or herbal tea. Vanilla pairs exceptionally well with spiced teas like masala chai or tea punch flavors. The aroma and flavor it provides can be described as soothing, floral, slightly spicy and very addictive.
Alternatives: Almond extract, coconut extract
Rose Petals for a Luxury Tea
Rose petals are a romantic and luxurious tea addition. Their heady floral sweetness and beautiful pink hue transform the drinking experience. Use strongly scented roses like Rosa damascena or Rosa centifolia for the best flavor. Remove the bitter white portion of the petals before steeping around 2-3 tablespoons of fresh or dried petals per cup of any type of tea. Make your tea extra fancy by garnishing with more petals.
Alternatives: Hibiscus flowers, jasmine flowers
Lavender for Floral Freshness
Like roses, fragrant lavender has an excellent floral flavor that makes a tea upgrade. Its distinctive perfume-like aroma is calming and pleasant. Use dried lavender or fresh sprigs. Steep 1-2 teaspoons dried lavender flowers or several fresh sprigs along with your favorite black, green or herbal tea variety for floral magic in a cup. Lavender lemonade tea is a delicious summery combo.
Alternatives: Chamomile, lemongrass
Infuse Tea With the Goodness of Berries
Plump juicy berries like strawberries, raspberries and blueberries infuse tea with sweet-tart flavor, pretty color, and nutritional benefits. Mash a handful of fresh or thawed frozen berries in a pot and steep your tea leaves or bag as usual before straining. The berries release delicious juices that dissolve nicely into the tea. You could also try freeze dried berries such as strawberries as these can add an instant hit of strong flavor.
Berries pair well with black, green, white and oolong teas. Fresh mint leaves added make a perfect flavor trifecta.
Alternatives: Pomegranate seeds, goji berries
Calendula Petals
Vibrant orange and yellow calendula petals not only give tea visual appeal, but they also provide a lovely, slightly spicy and herb-like flavor. Common in Ayurvedic tea blends, calendula has anti-inflammatory benefits too. For an uplifting cup, add around 1-2 teaspoons of dried petals per serving to black, green or herbal teas during steeping. The petals infuse the water with their cheerful color and savory flavor.
Alternatives: Chamomile flowers, cornflower petals
Take your tea from bland to grand with these easy add-ins.
Try mixing and matching ingredients to invent your own signature tea creations. Sip mindfully, infuse warmth into your day, and enjoy your personalized cup of tea. The options for elevating this comforting, healthy beverage are endless.
