Is there anything tea can’t do? Study after study links it to reduced rates of cancer, mental calm and better sleep. It soothes a scratchy throat when you’re sick, and provides a gentler (but still helpful) caffeine high than coffee. It comes in countless varieties and flavors, and has been consumed for thousands of years (kind of like our kefir!).
Hot, cold, fast or slow-brewed, coffee is a breakfast staple that’s quickly popping up in cafes, diners and tea bars across the country. It’s even popping up as a flavor of our fabulously frozen kefir – soft serve and in bars!
January is National Hot Tea Month, and in its honor, we invited Wendy Bazilian, DrPH, RD, co-author of the new Eat Clean, Stay Lean: 300 Real Foods and Recipes for Lifelong Health and Lasting Weight Loss, to share some her favorite tea recipes with us.
You might have seen Wendy recently on the Today Show, cooking “lazy lasagna” with Matt Lauer, or on LIVE with Kelly and Michael, where she is a regular guest. Her recipes are always healthy, on trend, and delicious to boot.
Lavender Earl Grey Latte
- 1 1⁄2 teaspoons loose-leaf Earl Grey tea
- 1⁄2 teaspoon dried lavender
- 1⁄2 cup 1% milk or unsweetened milk alternative
- 1 teaspoon honey
- 1⁄4 teaspoon vanilla extract
Brew the tealeaves and lavender together in 8 ounces of just-boiled water, steeping for about 5 minutes to create a strong brew.
Heat the milk, honey, and vanilla in a small saucepan until just simmering, being careful not to let the milk boil, about 3 minutes.
Strain the brewed tea into a large mug and add the honey-vanilla milk.
Cardamom -Ginger Chai Tea
- 4 whole green cardamom pods, smashed
- 2 thin slices (1-inch-diameter) fresh ginger
- 1 inch cinnamon stick
- 1 whole clove
- 1 1⁄2 cups 1% milk or unsweetened milk alternative
- 1 1⁄2 teaspoons loose-leaf black tea
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- 1 tsp pure maple syrup or honey (optional)
Combine 1 1⁄2 cups water, the cardamom, ginger, cinnamon stick, and clove in a small saucepan. Bring the mixture to a boil. Reduce the heat to low and simmer until the mixture is fragrant, about three minutes.
Add the milk, tealeaves, and vanilla and simmer for one minute longer. Turn off the heat and let steep for two minutes.
Strain into two cups through a fine-mesh sieve (discard the leaves and spices). If desired, sweeten with the maple syrup.
Jasmine Mint Tea
- 3 teaspoons loose jasmine green tea
- 6 fresh mint leaves
- 4 teaspoons honey
Pour one cup steaming hot (but not boiling) water over the loose tea and mint leaves and soak for three minutes. Stir in the honey until totally dissolved. Strain and enjoy.
Craving something iced? Try this:
Black Sesame Bubble Tea
- 1 Tbsp loose-leaf black tea
- 2 tsp honey
- 1⁄2 cup 1% milk or unsweetened milk alternative, such as almond milk
- 2 Tbsp black sesame paste
- 2 Tbsp prepared tapioca balls (available online or at Asian markets)
Brew the black tea in 1 1⁄2 cups just-boiled water. Strain and refrigerate to chill.
Whisk the honey into the milk until dissolved.
Combine the chilled tea, honey-milk, and sesame paste in a container with a lid. Shake together until well combined.
Divide between two glasses and stir in the tapioca. Sip with a large-diameter bubble tea straw.