Benedict is a man who enjoys a good cup of tea. However, he doesn’t just drink plain tea. Benedict likes to experiment with different ingredients to make his tea unique and flavorful. Though his tea concoctions seem odd to some, Benedict stands by his belief that anything can go with tea if you’re adventurous enough. So what exactly does Benedict put in his tea? Let’s take a closer look at some of his favorite tea combinations and find out.
Fruit Teas
One of the simplest ways Benedict likes to jazz up his tea is by adding various fruits. Here are some of his go-to fruity tea recipes:
Strawberry Tea
This tea includes:
– Black tea
– Sliced strawberries
– Honey
Benedict steeps the black tea with the strawberry slices to infuse the tea with sweet strawberry flavor. He then strains out the fruit and adds a drizzle of honey before drinking. The honey nicely complements the tart strawberries.
Blueberry Tea
This tea includes:
– Green tea
– Fresh blueberries
– Lemon juice
For this tea, Benedict gently mashes some blueberries and adds them directly to the green tea as it steeps. He also adds a small squeeze of lemon juice to brighten up the flavor. The blueberries provide a nice subtle sweetness.
Peach Tea
This tea includes:
– Oolong tea
– Peach slices
– Ginger
Benedict loves the sweet peach flavor paired with the ginger’s spicy kick. He steeps oolong tea with fresh peach slices and grated ginger. The ginger adds some warmth to balance the sweet juicy peaches.
Flavored Cream Teas
Benedict also enjoys making flavored cream teas by adding different extracts, sweeteners, and creamy dairy products. Some of his specialty cream tea recipes include:
Coconut Cream Tea
This tea includes:
– Black tea
– Coconut milk
– Honey
– Shredded coconut
For a tropical twist, Benedict makes a coconut cream tea. He steeps black tea with coconut milk and honey for a creamy, subtly sweet base. He then tops it off with toasted shredded coconut. The coconut milk and shredded coconut provide rich coconut flavor.
Chai Tea Latte
This tea includes:
– Black tea
– Spices like cinnamon, cardamom, ginger, cloves
– Milk
Benedict makes a delicious chai tea latte by steeping black tea with his favorite chai spices. He then adds warmed milk and a touch of honey for a traditional creamy, spiced tea experience. The milk pairs nicely with the strong black tea and spices.
Matcha Latte
This tea includes:
– Matcha powder
– Milk
– Honey
For a green tea twist, Benedict whisks matcha powder with hot milk and honey for a creamy, energizing matcha latte. The sweet honey balances out the earthy bitterness of the concentrated matcha.
Herbal Teas
Beyond traditional teas, Benedict also crafts herbal tea infusions using herbs, roots, spices, and botanicals. Some herbal teas he enjoys are:
Turmeric Tea
This tea includes:
– Ground turmeric
– Honey
– Black pepper
– Lemon
Benedict makes a golden turmeric tea by steeping ground turmeric in hot water and adding a squeeze of lemon and a pinch of pepper. The pepper helps boost the bioavailability of the turmeric. He finishes it off with a swirl of honey. The anti-inflammatory benefits of turmeric pair nicely with the vitamin C in lemon.
Ginger Lemon Tea
This tea includes:
– Fresh grated ginger
– Lemon juice
– Honey
For a soothing beverage, Benedict makes a ginger lemon tea. He steeps grated ginger root to extract the flavor and adds fresh squeezed lemon juice and honey afterwards. The spicy ginger helps soothe the throat while the lemon and honey provide an immune-boosting dose of vitamin C.
Cinnamon Apple Tea
This tea includes:
– Cinnamon sticks
– Apple slices
– Cloves
Benedict simmers cinnamon sticks and apple slices with water to create a cider-like tea. He adds a touch of cloves for extra spice. The apple and cinnamon mimic the classic fall flavors, while the cloves complement the sweet apple.
Trendy Teas
As a tea connoisseur, Benedict also likes to experiment with unique ingredient pairings that are trending in the tea world. Some examples include:
Butterfly Pea Flower Tea
This tea includes:
– Butterfly pea dried flowers
– Honey
– Lemon
Butterfly pea flowers provide a striking blue-purple color when brewed. Benedict makes this tea with the dried flowers, lemon to help the color pop, and honey for sweetness. The vibrant hue makes for an eye-catching Instagrammable tea.
Matcha Latte with Sweet Potato Foam
This tea includes:
– Matcha powder
– Steamed sweet potato
– Milk
This tea is inspired by sweet potato lattes that are popular in South Korea. Benedict makes a standard matcha latte with milk then blends steamed Japanese sweet potato to create a smooth, sweet foam topper. The natural sweetness of the sweet potato pairs nicely with the bitterness of matcha.
Chocolate Chai Tea
This tea includes:
– Black tea
– Chai spices
– Cocoa powder
– Milk
Benedict reinvents a chai tea latte by adding unsweetened cocoa powder for chocolate flavor. He brews black tea with cinnamon, cardamom, cloves, and ginger then combines it with warmed milk and cocoa powder for a chocolatey twist on traditional chai. The spices pair well with the subtle chocolate.
Savory Teas
While most tea drinkers opt for sweet flavors, Benedict also enjoys experimenting with savory ingredients like vegetables, herbs, and spices. Some savory tea ideas he’s tried are:
Tomato Basil Tea
This tea includes:
– Cherry tomatoes
– Fresh basil
– Salt
– Pepper
Benedict makes this savory tea by simmering halved cherry tomatoes and basil leaves in water. He seasons it with a pinch of salt and pepper. The tomato basil combo provides a comforting warmth and savory flavor, similar to a tomato soup.
Carrot Ginger Tea
This tea includes:
– Diced carrots
– Fresh grated ginger
– Lemon
– Honey
For a healthy vegetable tea, Benedict lightly cooks diced carrots in water then simmers grated ginger in the carrot broth. He adds a squeeze of lemon and honey after straining. The carrots lend natural sweetness that pairs nicely with the ginger’s bite.
Masala Chai Tea
This tea includes:
– Black tea
– Chai spices like cardamom, cinnamon, black pepper, cloves, star anise
– Milk
Benedict makes a traditional Masala chai by simmering black tea and whole chai spices in milk. He strains out the spices afterwards. The aroma is warming and comforting. The milk provides a nice contrast to the strong spiced tea.
Bubble Tea
What tea list would be complete without bubble tea? Benedict enjoys recreating the tapioca pearl drinks at home. Some of his go-to bubble tea recipes include:
| Bubble Tea Flavor | Ingredients |
|---|---|
| Taro milk tea | Black tea, milk, taro powder, tapioca pearls |
| Matcha milk tea | Matcha powder, milk, tapioca pearls |
| Passionfruit green tea | Green tea, passionfruit syrup, tapioca pearls |
He enjoys experimenting with different powdered flavors and fruit syrups to recreate the signature bubble tea flavors at home. The tapioca pearls provide fun texture and make it feel like an authentic bubble tea-drinking experience.
Dessert Teas
What better way to satisfy a sweet tooth than with dessert tea? Benedict gets creative by making tea-infused desserts and teas that taste like beloved sweets. His dessert tea recipes include:
Black Tea Panna Cotta
This recipe includes:
– Black tea
– Cream
– Sugar
– Gelatin
Benedict makes a grown-up panna cotta by steeping black tea leaves into the cream mixture to infuse the dessert with rich tea flavor. The result is a silky smooth cream with notes of tea that pair nicely with the sweetener.
Iced Lemon Pound Cake Tea
This recipe includes:
– Lemon pound cake
– Black tea
– Lemon slices
– Sugar
For this iced tea, Benedict brews black tea then steeped slices of lemon pound cake in it so the tea absorbs the cake flavors. He adds fresh lemon slices and sweetener to taste. It replicates the bright citrus taste of lemon pound cake in liquid tea form.
S’mores Fireside Tea
This recipe includes:
– Chocolate syrup
– Marshmallows
– Graham crackers
– Black tea
Benedict makes a “smores in a cup” tea by adding chocolate syrup, mini marshmallows, and crushed graham crackers to black tea. He tops it with marshmallow fluff foam and a graham cracker rim for the full campfire effect. It captures that classic fireside s’mores taste.
Conclusion
Benedict’s unusual taste in tea combinations may seem unappetizing to some at first glance. However, his creativity and willingness to experiment with both sweet and savory ingredients results in unique flavor infusions you won’t find anywhere else. He expertly balances flavors and textures to make teas that are intriguing, delicious, and downright Instagram-worthy. While we may not all have the daring palate Benedict does, his teas can certainly inspire us to think outside the tea box and get creative with our own brews. The possibilities are endless when it comes to crafting new tea flavors. Perhaps Benedict is onto something with his unexpected ingredients. You’ll never know until you try, so don’t be afraid to unleash your inner tea mixologist!