5 Recipes You Can Make With Tea

Tea is a comforting and delicious beverage, but it’s also an ingredient you can use in various dishes. From savory entrees to sweet treats, the subtle flavors and aromatic qualities of tea add depth and complexity to everyday recipes. If you love drinking tea, you’ll love these 5 food recipes you can make with tea! 

Sweet Tea BBQ Chicken

A deliciously sweet and juicy chicken recipe perfect for the summer season.

Ingredients 

• 4-5 lbs chicken thighs or legs 
• 1 cup unsweetened apple juice
• 1 cup water
• 2 tsp seafood seasoning, such as Old Bay
• 1 tsp paprika
• 1 tsp garlic powder
• I tsp coarsely ground pepper
• 1 cup barbecue sauce
• ½ cup brewed iced tea, such as Georgia Sunshine

Directions

1. Preheat the oven to 350°. 
2. Pour apple juice and water into a large, shallow roasting pan.
3. Mix seafood seasoning, paprika, garlic powder, and pepper. Rub all over the chicken and place the chicken in the roasting pan. 
4. Bake, covered, for 50-60 minutes or until a thermometer reads 170°. Transfer chicken to a foil-lined baking pan. 
5. Whisk together barbecue sauce and brewed tea; brush the mixture over chicken. 
6. Place chicken on a greased grill rack and grill over medium heat for 3-4 minutes per side, brushing occasionally with remaining sauce. 

Recipe sourced from Taste of Home. 

Chai Latte Granola

Add this to your yogurt or parfait and you’ll never want store-bought granola again.

Ingredients 

• 1 ½ cups old-fashioned oats
• 1 ½ cups of rice cereal, such as Rice Krispies
• ½ cup chai tea
• 1 ½ tsp unsalted butter or coconut oil, melted & cooled to room temperature
• 2 tbsp skim milk
• 2 tbsp maple syrup
• 1 tsp ground cinnamon

Directions

1. Preheat the oven to 350° and lightly coat a 9” square baking pan with nonstick cooking spray. 
2. In a large bowl, combine the oats and rice cereal. In a separate bowl, stir together the chai tea, butter (coconut oil), milk maple syrup, and cinnamon. Pour over the cereal mixture and gently toss until completely coated. 
3. Spread into the prepared pan and bake for 15 minutes. Gently break up the granola with a spoon and redistribute around the pan. Bake for another 15 minutes, then stir again. Bake for 5-15 more minutes depending on how crunchy you like your granola.
4. Cool completely to room temperature in the pan before storing in an airtight container. 

Recipe sourced from Amy’s Healthy Baking. 

Strawberry Jasmine Tea Sorbet 

A refreshing, fruity treat for those hot MidSouth afternoons. 

Ingredients

• ¾ cup hot boiling water
• 2 tbsp green tea leaves, such as Nutty Green
• 2 tbsp dried jasmine flowers
• 2 ½ cups fresh strawberries
• 1-2 tbsp granulated sugar
• 2 tbsp honey
• zest of 1 lime

Directions

1. Add green tea leaves and jasmine flowers to a teapot.
2. Follow the tea brewing instructions laid out on our blog according to the type of tea you’re brewing. 
3. Strain out the tea leaves and jasmine flowers.
4. Measure out ½ cup of the brewed tea and set aside.
5. In a small saucepan, combine fresh strawberries, sugar, and honey.
6. Bring to a simmer and cook over medium-low heat until the mixture is reduced by about half and looks jam-like.
7. Remove from heat and pour in the brewed jasmine green tea and lime zest.
8. Transfer the mixture to a high-speed blender and blend until smooth.
9. Transfer to a clean container and let the mixture cool. 
10. Allow to chill for at least 6 hours, but preferably overnight. 
11. Transfer the strawberry mixture to your ice cream maker and churn according to your appliance's instructions. 
12. Transfer the sorbet to an airtight container and freeze until firm, about 4-6 hours. 

Recipe sourced from Sift & Simmer. 

Matcha Cream Cheese

Spread on a bagel and garnish with your favorite seeds. 

Ingredients 

• 8 oz cream cheese 
• 2 tsp matcha powder
• 3 tbsp honey

Directions

1. In a medium bowl, add the cream cheese, matcha, and honey.
2. Beat using a hand mixer until smooth and creamy. 

Sourced from Tara’s Multicultural Table. 

Chamomile Tea & Lemon Shortbread

Simple melt-in-your-mouth biscuits with a delicate flavor. 

Ingredients 

• 2 sticks softened butter
• ½ cup + 1 tbsp caster sugar
• Finely grated zest of 1 lemon
• The contents of 3 chamomile tea bags, about 4 tsp
• ¼ tsp salt
• 1 ¾ + 2 tbsp flour
• ¾ + 2 tbsp cornstarch

Instructions

1. Whisk butter and sugar together in an electric mixer until pale and fluffy then cut open the tea bags and tip in the loose tea leaves. Add lemon zest and salt, whisk to combine. 
2. In a separate bowl, sift together the flour and cornstarch then add it to the butter mixture, mixing until a dough forms. Shape into a ball.
3. Roll the dough out on a lightly floured surface to about a quarter of an inch thick. Cut into whatever shape you like and place on two baking trays, prick each biscuit several times with the tines of a fork. 
4. Place the trays of biscuits in the freezer for about 15 minutes, while you heat the oven to 325°.
5. Bake for 15-20 minutes, until just golden around the edges. Leave to cool on the trays for a couple of minutes then transfer to a wire rack, sprinkle with sugar, and leave to cool completely. 

Recipe sourced from Domestic Gothess. 

Shop My Cup of Tea

Many of these recipes use already brewed teas, so if you need some advice on creating the perfect brew, check out Bretta walking through how to make a great cup of tea in this video. If you try out these recipes, don’t forget to post photos on Instagram and tag us @mycupofteamemphis. We love to see where our recipes travel and how each of you puts your own spin on them!

Interested in other fun recipes made with tea from My Cup of Tea? Check out our Youtube Channel! Is there a tea you want to see made into a fun recipe? Let us know on our socials!