Infusing alcohol with tea overview
Yes, you can infuse alcohol with tea to create unique and flavored alcoholic beverages. The most common types of alcohol used for tea infusions are vodka, rum, bourbon, whiskey, brandy, and gin. The tea provides subtle flavors and aromas that enhance the alcohol. Popular tea varieties used for infusions include black tea, green tea, oolong tea, white tea, herbal teas like chamomile, and even chai tea.
Infusing spirits with tea is an easy process that involves steeping tea leaves or bags in a bottle of the alcohol for a period of time, often a few days to a few weeks. The longer it infuses, the stronger the tea flavors will be. The infusion time can be adjusted to achieve the desired strength. Many mixologists and home bartenders create custom tea infusions to use in cocktails or simply enjoy sipping the infused spirit on its own.
Benefits of infusing alcohol with tea
There are several benefits to infusing alcohol with tea:
– Adds unique and subtle tea flavors to spirits – The tea provides aromas and tastes that complement and enhance the spirit used in the infusion. This creates more complex and interesting liquors.
– Allows creativity and customization – Almost any type of tea can be used to infuse any variety of alcohol. Different tea and alcohol combinations provide endless opportunities for experimentation by mixologists and home enthusiasts.
– Changes the color of clear spirits – Teas often impart a light hue to clear liquors like vodka and gin, creating more visual appeal. Darker teas can provide rich, golden or amber colors.
– Alters the mouthfeel of spirits – Tea infusions can give a rounder, smoother mouthfeel to alcohol. Tannins from black and oolong teas, in particular, can provide an almost silky texture.
– Provides health benefits over straight alcohol – While infused spirits should still be consumed in moderation, the antioxidants in tea may offer some added health benefits compared to drinking straight alcohol alone.
– Allows DIY customization at home – Infusing alcohol with tea is an easy DIY project for home bartenders looking to expand their craft cocktails or create unique gifts.
Suitable tea types for infusing
Many varieties of tea work well for infusing into spirits. Some top options include:
Black tea – Bold and robust black teas like Assam, Ceylon, Keemun, and Darjeeling blend nicely with spirits like bourbon, rum, vodka, and gin. The tannins provide structure.
Green tea – Grassy and vegetal green teas such as Sencha and matcha infuse brightly into gin, vodka, rice liqueurs, and other clean spirits. They provide fresh flavors.
Oolong tea – Rich oolong offers baked, woodsy notes that complement brandy, bourbon, scotch, and rum. The tannins add texture.
White tea – Delicate white teas infuse beautifully into lighter spirits like gin, vodka, and vermouth. They impart gentle floral and fruity notes.
Chamomile tea – Soothing chamomile shines when infused into reposado tequila, light rum, vodka, and brandy. It offers mild herbal flavors.
Chai tea – Warming chai spices like cinnamon, cardamom, ginger, and black pepper lend a kick to rum, bourbon, and other brown spirits.
The options are endless, so part of the fun is experimenting with different tea and alcohol pairings to create your own signature infusions.
Best alcohol types for tea infusing
Many distilled spirits and liqueurs make excellent candidates for infusing with tea. Some top options include:
Vodka – The clean and versatile profile of vodka allows the flavors of delicate teas to shine through beautifully.
Gin – Floral and aromatic gins complement and enhance many herbal, floral, and green teas.
Rum – Dark rums like Jamaican rum and spiced rums pair well with bold black teas and chai. Light rums work with green and white teas.
Bourbon – The vanilla and oak notes in bourbon blend seamlessly with black teas, chamomile, and chai.
Brandy – Smooth fruit brandies complement floral and fruit teas like rose, berry, stone fruit, and citrus teas.
Whiskey – Single malt and rye whiskies make excellent vessels for infusing smoky Lapsang souchong and malty Assam teas.
Tequila – Reposado and añejo tequila absorb flavors from citrusy, floral and herbal teas remarkably well.
The basic rule is to match lighter teas with lighter spirits and fuller bodied teas with fuller spirits. But feel free to get creative and sample tea infusions with any alcohol you enjoy!
Step-by-step instructions
Infusing alcohol with tea is simple. Follow these easy steps:
1. Choose your tea
Select a high quality loose leaf tea or tea bags. Black, green, white and herbal teas all work well. Choose a variety that will complement the spirit.
2. Choose your spirit
Select an 80 proof distilled spirit like vodka, rum, gin or whiskey. Lower proof liqueurs can work too but may dilute faster.
3. Add the tea and spirit to a glass jar or bottle
Use about 1⁄4 cup of loose tea per 750ml bottle of alcohol. For tea bags, use 2-3 bags per bottle.
4. Seal and store the mixture
Seal the bottle tightly and store out of direct light. Give it a shake periodically to help the infusion.
5. Taste and adjust the infusion time
Sample the infusion after 2-3 days. If needed, let it steep longer until the desired flavor intensity is reached.
6. Strain and rebottle the infused spirit
Once ready, strain out the tea leaves through a fine mesh strainer. Rebottle the finished infusion.
And enjoy your custom infused spirit! The possibilities are endless when infusing teas and alcohol.
Infusion times
The infusion time can vary widely depending on the tea used, the spirit, and personal taste preferences. Some general time guidelines include:
– Delicate white and green teas: 2-3 days
– Floral black and oolong teas: 3-5 days
– Robust black teas and chai: 5-7 days
– Dried herbs and flowers: 7-10 days
These are just starting points to test, but tasting periodically is the best way to gauge when your infusion has reached the ideal intensity. Don’t be afraid to experiment!
Storing and shelf life
Properly stored, infused spirits can retain peak quality:
– Stored sealed in a cool, dark place
– Away from heat and light
– Shelflife of about 1-2 months for optimal freshness
Over time, the tea flavor may fade so consume within a couple months. Re-infusing with new tea is an option for longer storage. For gifting, bottling in smaller 200-350ml bottles helps ensure freshness.
Serving and cocktail ideas
A few serving ideas for infused spirits:
– Enjoy straight up on the rocks or with a splash of water or soda
– Create simple highballs with tea-infused alcohol + soda/tonic + lemon/lime
– Craft custom cocktails using infused liquors as the base
– Use an infusion to replace plain alcohol in classic cocktail recipes
– Mix with juices, bitters, syrups, and liqueurs for unique combinations
– Get creative with names like “Tipsy Thai Tea” or “Earl Grey MarTEAni”
The possibilities are endless! Use tea infusions to add a new twist to familiar cocktails or invent your own signature drinks.
Popular infusion recipes
Some classic tea infusion recipes to try:
Chamomile Bourbon
– 2 chamomile tea bags
– 750ml bourbon
– Infuse for 5 days
– Sweeten with honey (optional)
Berry Gin Punch
– 1⁄4 cup dried berries (raspberries, blueberries, etc)
– 750ml gin
– Infuse for 10 days
– Mix with lemonade and club soda
Vanilla Pear Vodka
– 3 black tea bags
– 1 split vanilla bean
– 1 chopped pear
– 750ml vodka
– Infuse for 3-5 days
Coconut Masala Rum
– 1 TBSP masala chai tea
– 1⁄4 cup unsweetened coconut flakes
– 750ml aged rum
– Infuse for 7 days
Experiment and create your own infused liquors using your favorite tea and alcohol combinations!
Frequently asked questions
Here are answers to some commonly asked questions about infusing alcohol with tea:
What ratio of tea to alcohol should be used?
For loose tea, use about 1⁄4 cup of tea leaves per 750ml of alcohol. For tea bags, 2-3 bags per 750ml is a good starting point. Adjust to taste.
Can I use the same tea to make multiple batches?
It’s best to use fresh tea each time to get the full flavors. The tea loses its potency after the first infusion.
Is there a maximum infusion time?
There’s no real “maximum” but taste regularly after 7-10 days. If the tea flavor is getting too strong, it’s best to strain the infusion.
Do I have to strain out all the tea leaves?
Yes, you’ll want to strain through a fine mesh before rebottling so no tea particles end up in your finished drink. Cheesecloth works for loose tea.
How long will infused spirits keep?
About 1-2 months stored sealed in a cool, dark place. Write the date on the bottle. Tea flavor fades over time.
Can you infuse liqueurs, wine, beer, and other drinks?
Absolutely! The infusion process works similarly with any beverage. Just adjust tea amounts and infusion times as needed.
Infusing spirits with tea is an easy and fun way to create custom flavors. Experiment with different tea and alcohol pairings to craft your own signature infusions. Enjoy sipping these unique liqueurs on their own or using them as the base for creative cocktails. Skål!