A Taste of vietnam
The Art of Tea Blending
In this article we are going to tell you about tea blending, its components, and steps to blend your own tea.
What is tea blending?
Tea blending is a process of mixing different tea types and/or other ingredients to create new flavors. So, tea blend itself is a combination of them and the final product. The number of components can be 2 or more. The main aim of tea blending is to achieve consistency in taste and reflect all the nuances of different components.
Artisan blenders and private label suppliers create tea blends that lately become a proprietary to a particular tea brand, tea shop or individuals.
Artisan blenders and private label suppliers create tea blends that lately become a proprietary to a particular tea brand, tea shop or individuals.
Tea blend components
Base tea
The base tea is a foundation of the tea blend. You can add to it herbs, flowers, spices, and fruits for added pleasant flavor. Those additives can not only bring new unique flavors but also complement its natural characteristics. The origin of a base tea is determined by the profile that has been assigned to it. Usually as a tea base black, green, yellow, oolong, or white teas are used.
Spices
They add flavor to tea quickly and make it easy to distinguish the base tea and blended flavor. Common spices that are used in tea blends are cinnamon, clove, cardamom, and ginger. Ensure that you are acquainted enough with their tastes before adding to your tea.
Fruits
They can be overpowering, and if you don't mix them with tea base in the right proportions, the blend will be too sour. Such fruits as apple, pineapple, and orange are easier to use and balance than others.
Herbs
Herbs infuse well when they are combined with the base tea. For instance, mint and lemongrass have an aromatic flavor that compliments your base tea well if well-balanced. Herbs, as well as spices, make a blend fresher and are easy to detect in a blend.
However, herbs require exploring them in advance as there are various flavors in each herb. Dried herbs for tea blends may taste one way in the jar, but another way once the tea is brewed.
Flowers
Flowers have extremely delicate flavor, and it takes special experience and knowledge to assess powerful effect they have on a blend. Jasmine, Rose, Hibiscus, and Lavender are some of the most common ones used in tea blending.
The base tea is a foundation of the tea blend. You can add to it herbs, flowers, spices, and fruits for added pleasant flavor. Those additives can not only bring new unique flavors but also complement its natural characteristics. The origin of a base tea is determined by the profile that has been assigned to it. Usually as a tea base black, green, yellow, oolong, or white teas are used.
Spices
They add flavor to tea quickly and make it easy to distinguish the base tea and blended flavor. Common spices that are used in tea blends are cinnamon, clove, cardamom, and ginger. Ensure that you are acquainted enough with their tastes before adding to your tea.
Fruits
They can be overpowering, and if you don't mix them with tea base in the right proportions, the blend will be too sour. Such fruits as apple, pineapple, and orange are easier to use and balance than others.
Herbs
Herbs infuse well when they are combined with the base tea. For instance, mint and lemongrass have an aromatic flavor that compliments your base tea well if well-balanced. Herbs, as well as spices, make a blend fresher and are easy to detect in a blend.
However, herbs require exploring them in advance as there are various flavors in each herb. Dried herbs for tea blends may taste one way in the jar, but another way once the tea is brewed.
Flowers
Flowers have extremely delicate flavor, and it takes special experience and knowledge to assess powerful effect they have on a blend. Jasmine, Rose, Hibiscus, and Lavender are some of the most common ones used in tea blending.
Several steps to blend tea
#1. Study the ingredients.
We have already talked about main ingredients that are used in tea blending above. You should explore various teas and get more experience before starting to blend tea. If you don’t have a clear idea of what certain tea tastes like, it’s impossible to effectively mix it with other ingredients. Some teas, herbs, fruits may not pair well with a flower or another tea.
#2. Take equipment for blending.
There are a few things you’ll need for tea blending. Those are:
Shot glass (for measuring)
Airtight containers
Measuring spoons
Dried or fresh spices, fruits, herbs. You can dehydrate your own using a dehydrator.
Flavoring
Base teas: loose-leaf true tea
#3. Start blending.
You can start, for example, with 3 of your favorite herbs. Experiment with mixes of tea, fruits, herbs, flavorings, and spices to create a blend. If you want to play it safe and save some time, there are numerous tea blending recipes on the Internet.
Step #4. Store your blend properly.
It’s important to store blended tea in an airtight container and be careful not to include any moist or wet particles in the tea. Sometimes fresh herbs and fruits in blend can make the tea damp and mold.
We have already talked about main ingredients that are used in tea blending above. You should explore various teas and get more experience before starting to blend tea. If you don’t have a clear idea of what certain tea tastes like, it’s impossible to effectively mix it with other ingredients. Some teas, herbs, fruits may not pair well with a flower or another tea.
#2. Take equipment for blending.
There are a few things you’ll need for tea blending. Those are:
Shot glass (for measuring)
Airtight containers
Measuring spoons
Dried or fresh spices, fruits, herbs. You can dehydrate your own using a dehydrator.
Flavoring
Base teas: loose-leaf true tea
#3. Start blending.
You can start, for example, with 3 of your favorite herbs. Experiment with mixes of tea, fruits, herbs, flavorings, and spices to create a blend. If you want to play it safe and save some time, there are numerous tea blending recipes on the Internet.
Step #4. Store your blend properly.
It’s important to store blended tea in an airtight container and be careful not to include any moist or wet particles in the tea. Sometimes fresh herbs and fruits in blend can make the tea damp and mold.
Vietnam Coffee & Tea Co.
The best way to blend tea professionally is to use services of private label tea suppliers.
Vietnam Coffee and Tea Company is a trustworthy private-label producer and supplier based in Vietnam.
Our tea products include premium and good quality teas, rare white teas, green, black, herbal, pu-erh, and oolong. We offer such services as tea blending and flavoring, taste development (tea blends with flowers, herbs, and fruits). What is more, we provide branding, package production, packing, and worldwide delivery. Our team has 7 years of experience working with different brands in different countries. Contact us to learn more about our services and details for possible cooperation!
Vietnam Coffee and Tea Company is a trustworthy private-label producer and supplier based in Vietnam.
Our tea products include premium and good quality teas, rare white teas, green, black, herbal, pu-erh, and oolong. We offer such services as tea blending and flavoring, taste development (tea blends with flowers, herbs, and fruits). What is more, we provide branding, package production, packing, and worldwide delivery. Our team has 7 years of experience working with different brands in different countries. Contact us to learn more about our services and details for possible cooperation!