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A Cup of Inspiration: Baking with Tea

Tea, with its aromatic leaves and rich flavours, isn’t just for sipping; it’s a versatile ingredient that can elevate your baking to new heights. In this blog post, we’ll embark on a culinary journey and explore the art of baking with tea. To sweeten the deal, we’ll share a delightful recipe for Earl Grey Tea Cookies that’s sure to awaken your taste buds.

The Magic of Tea in Baking

Tea leaves are brimming with unique flavours and fragrances waiting to infuse your baked goods with a touch of sophistication. When incorporated into your favourite recipes, tea can create depth, complexity, and a subtle hint of its signature aroma. It’s a secret ingredient that turns ordinary treats into extraordinary ones.

Recipe: Earl Grey Tea Cookies

Ingredients:

  • 2 tablespoons Earl Grey tea leaves (removed from tea bags or loose-leaf)
  • 1 cup unsalted butter, softened
  • 1/2 cup powdered sugar
  • 2 cups all-purpose flour
  • 1/4 teaspoon salt
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Instructions:

  1. Preheat your oven to 175°C. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
  2. Grind the Earl Grey tea leaves to a fine powder using a spice grinder or mortar and pestle.
  3. In a mixing bowl, cream together the softened butter and powdered sugar until light and fluffy.
  4. Stir in the ground Earl Grey tea leaves and vanilla extract until well combined.
  5. Gradually add the flour and salt to the mixture, mixing until a soft dough forms.
  6. Roll the dough into small balls (about 1 inch in diameter) and place them on the prepared baking sheet. Gently flatten each cookie with the bottom of a glass.
  7. Bake in the preheated oven for 12-15 minutes, or until the edges are lightly golden.
  8. Remove the cookies from the oven and let them cool on the baking sheet for a few minutes before transferring them to a wire rack to cool completely.
  9. Once cooled, savour the delicate and fragrant Earl Grey Tea Cookies with a cup of your favourite tea.

Baking with tea is a delightful journey of flavour discovery. Whether it’s the subtle floral notes of Earl Grey, the earthy richness of matcha, or the comforting embrace of chai, tea can infuse your baked creations with a unique and enchanting twist. So, dust off your apron, brew a pot of tea for inspiration, and let the magic of tea elevate your baking to a whole new level.

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What’s the Tea on Matcha?

Matcha, the vibrant green powdered tea known for its brilliant colour and earthy flavour, has taken the world by storm. Beyond being a beloved tea, matcha is a versatile ingredient that adds a touch of elegance to both beverages and culinary creations. In this blog post, we’ll explore the wonders of matcha and share a delightful recipe for Matcha Crepes.

The Marvellous World of Matcha

Matcha is a type of green tea that’s grown and processed uniquely. The tea leaves are shaded before harvest, which enhances their chlorophyll content and imparts the distinctive green colour. After drying, the leaves are ground into a fine powder, giving us matcha as we know it today.

Sipping Serenity: Matcha Tea

In its simplest form, matcha is whisked with hot water to create a frothy, vibrant cup of tea. Unlike traditional tea, where leaves are steeped and removed, with matcha, you consume the whole leaf, which means you get all the goodness it has to offer. Matcha is revered for its calming yet energizing properties, making it an ideal choice for those seeking both focus and relaxation.

Culinary Delights with Matcha

Matcha’s versatility extends far beyond a simple cup of tea. It’s a delightful addition to a variety of culinary creations, from smoothies and desserts to savoury dishes. One particularly enchanting matcha treat is Matcha Crepes.

Recipe: Matcha Crepes

Ingredients:

  • 1 cup all-purpose flour
  • 1 tablespoon Organics for Lily matcha powder
  • 2 tablespoons granulated sugar
  • 1 1/2 cups milk
  • 2 large eggs
  • 2 tablespoons melted butter
  • A pinch of salt

Instructions:

  1. In a mixing bowl, whisk together the flour, Organics for Lily matcha powder, sugar, and salt.
  2. In a separate bowl, whisk together the milk, eggs, and melted butter.
  3. Gradually pour the wet ingredients into the dry ingredients, whisking continuously until you have a smooth batter.
  4. Heat a non-stick skillet over medium-high heat and lightly grease it with butter or oil.
  5. Pour a small ladleful of batter into the skillet, swirling it to coat the bottom evenly. Cook until the edges start to lift and the crepe is lightly browned on the bottom.
  6. Carefully flip the crepe and cook for another 30 seconds to 1 minute on the other side.
  7. Repeat the process with the remaining batter.
  8. Serve your Matcha Crepes with your favourite fillings. Some delightful options include whipped cream, fresh berries, honey, or a dusting of extra matcha powder.

Matcha is more than a tea; it’s a celebration of flavour, colour, and versatility. Whether you’re whisking it into a comforting cup or infusing it into delectable crepes, matcha adds a touch of magic to your culinary creations. Embrace the enchantment of matcha and let your creativity flow in the kitchen. From the first sip to the last bite, matcha invites you to savour life’s simple pleasures.

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Organics For Lily: Your Herbal Tea Specialty Store Online

Tea lovers have reason to rejoice as they can get their hands on the best herbal tea online from Organics For Lily. We are a tea specialty store that has a wide range of organic tea offerings from basic tea like green tea, black tea, and the like to herbal tea infusions and therapeutic tea choices. More than that, you will also find that we have tea accessories that will surely delight tea enthusiasts like our selection of tea bottles and mugs and our collection of infusers. We also have a variety of tea packs which are ideal for gifting.

Organics For Lily takes pride in having the highest quality of ingredients—100% certified organic—in its tea, meticulously blended and crafted by our tea master and naturopath. Choosing the best elements Mother Nature has to offer in the leafy acreage of Brisbane’s western corridor, our selection of tea offerings delivers not only the natural nutritional benefits of all things organic, but the tastiest herbal tea blends your taste buds will ever savour.

Our Herbal Tea Offerings

Our tea master has translated the artistic and creative sensibilities that revolve around naturopathic principles has brought about our very own in-house blends of herbal teas using organic and natural botanicals and aromatics.

Fall in love with our Licorice Love Tea. It’s the perfect mix of licorice root, cacao, cinnamon, chicory root, and mango that brings out a naturally sweet taste. If you need a pick-me-up, then Cool Vanilla will surely do the trick with its refreshing mix of spearmint and hawthorn berries with a little hint of vanilla. For a refreshing turn, let Refresh Me renew you with its blend of peppermint, spearmint, hyssop, and lavender that will surely perk you up.

For a little traditional flavour, we have Peppermint Tea and all its medicinal benefits; and our Lemongrass & Ginger Tea, another classic, that helps calm an upset stomach. These two should always come in handy so always have them in your kitchen. And speaking of traditional, nothing beats the seasonal flavour our Christmas Tea brings to the table. Its festive mix of peppermint, hibiscus, cloves, cinnamon, and apple truly makes it a season to be jolly.

Benefits of Drinking Herbal Tea

Because herbal teas are naturally caffeine-free, they generally soothe your nerves. Drinking herbal tea reduces stress and anxiety. Some herbal teas even lifts up your mood. Herbal tea made from 100% organic ingredients boosts the immune system effectively, protecting your body from diseases. Drinking it regularly aids in digestion, especially those with peppermint and ginger.

Herbal teas provide hydration better than coffee. They are a great alternative to water when you want to stay hydrated. Many herbal teas are very rich in antioxidants, especially if they’re 100% certified organic. As such, they promote a healthier skin when you regularly drink herbal teas, especially those with chamomile.

Organics For Lily is your specialty tea shop online where you can find the best herbal teas made from 100% organic and natural ingredients, lovingly created and masterfully crafted by our very own tea master and naturopath. With more than a decade of delivering the most delectable organic blends, our tea blends are infused with the natural and organic goodness Mother Nature has to offer.

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Labour tea

Are you or someone you know PREGNANT? Ever thought of using RASPBERRY LEAF tea to facilitate labour? Want to learn more?

Raspberry leaf preparations have been used since ancient times to prepare the uterus for birth in an attempt to facilitate a complication free labour.   It’s traditionally taken as a partus preparatory to prepare the uterus for delivery and to facilitate labour.  It doesn’t induce labor but increases the strength and amplitude of contractions.  It helps to bring the uterus down quickly therefore reducing the risk of infection.  Research suggests that Raspberry leaf may increase the regularity and decrease the frequency of uterine contractions.  Other studies have shown it to shorten the second stage of labour and;  Reduce the likelihood of preterm and posterm labour. Most women who take raspberry leaf tea go into labour on or before their due date.

Raspberry leaf can also help with the production and maintenance of breast milk
IMPORTANT

Avoid taking it in the first trimester of pregnancy.

It may reduce the absorption of some vitamins and minerals so it’s very important to consult your naturopath before taking this tea.


Raspberry leaf tea should be started in your second trimester (around 20 weeks) and the dosage increased until 1 week post partum.

As much as you are tempted to start taking Raspberry leaf at 39 weeks when you have kankles, are peeing every 5 minutes, can’t sleep and feel like a beached wale.  Taking it a week before you are due doesn’t have any effect. Research has indicated it needs to be gradually increased well before your due date.  So make sure you start drinking in your second trimester.

HOW TO TAKE
Start drinking 1 cup (500 mg) per day at 20/40 weeks and increase every few weeks until drinking 4 cups per day. Continue drinking 4 cups until 1 week after delivery
An example of this is;
20/40-25/40 – 1 cup (500mg/d)
25/40 to 30/40 – 2 cups (2x500mg)
30/40 to 34/40 – 3 cups (3x500mg)
34/40 to delivery – 4 cups (4x500mg)
If you have any questions please feel free to leave a comment below or email me at hello@organicsforlily.com.au
Labour tea is now available on our website https://www.organicsforlily.com.au/shop/therapeutic-tea/labour-tea/
Good luck 🙂
Mel
xx
written by Melissa Khonsavang
BHSc – Naturopathy
Organics for lily