Vanilla tea: 7 delicious recipes for true food lovers

Introduction

The aroma and flavour of vanilla have always appealed to food lovers. Pair it with tea and you get a delicious drink that can be made in all sorts of ways. Whether you want a warming cup on a cold day or a refreshing summer drink, vanilla tea is lovely all year round. In this article, we’re sharing seven vanilla tea recipes created especially for tea lovers and foodies. Each has its own character, is easy to make and promises a memorable flavour experience.

Contents

• Recipe 1: Classic vanilla black tea or DARK Guayusa
• Recipe 2: Vanilla green tea with a citrus note
• Recipe 3: Vanilla chai tea
• Recipe 4: Vanilla rooibos tea
• Recipe 5: Iced vanilla and mint tea
• Recipe 6: Vanilla and lavender tea
• Recipe 7: Vanilla and honey tea
• What makes Vanilla Odorata special

Recipe 1: Classic vanilla black tea or DARK Guayusa

Ingredients

• 2 tsp black tea (or our GUYA DARK as a delicious, non-bitter alternative to black tea)
• a generous pinch of Amazonian vanilla powder
• 500 ml water

Method

1. Add the Amazonian vanilla to a tea infuser or straight to the teapot.
2. Add the black tea or GUYA DARK to the teapot.
3. Bring the water to the boil and pour it over the mixture.
4. Leave to steep for 5–15 minutes. Black tea needs about 5 minutes; GUYA DARK needs 10–15 minutes.

Recipe 2: Vanilla green tea with a citrus note

Ingredients

• 2 tsp green tea (or GUYA PURE as a non-bitter alternative)
• a generous pinch of Amazonian vanilla powder
• 1 tsp grated lemon zest
• 500 ml water

Method

1. Put the vanilla powder, green tea or GUYA PURE, and lemon zest in a teapot.
2. Heat the water to 80°C, or to 100°C for GUYA PURE, and pour it over the mixture.
3. Steep for 3 minutes, then serve. GUYA PURE can steep for longer without turning bitter; we recommend at least 10 minutes.

Recipe 3: Vanilla chai tea

Ingredients

• 2 tsp chai tea blend, such as GUYA Guayusa CHAI
• a generous pinch of Amazonian vanilla powder
• 500 ml milk or plant-based drink (or 250 ml water and 250 ml milk)
• 1 tsp maple syrup

Method

1. Put the Amazonian vanilla and chai tea blend in a saucepan.
2. Heat the milk until it is just simmering, then pour it over the mixture.
3. Steep for 5 minutes, sweeten to taste with maple syrup and serve.

Alternative: Ishpingo cinnamon

For a change from regular cinnamon, you can also use our Amazonian cinnamon leaves. Combined with vanilla, Guayusa PURE or DARK, and perhaps a little Amazonian ginger, they make a delicious chai.

Recipe 4: Vanilla rooibos tea

Ingredients

• 2 tsp rooibos tea
• a generous pinch of Amazonian vanilla powder
• 500 ml water
• 1 tsp coconut blossom sugar

Method

1. Put the Amazonian vanilla and rooibos tea in a teapot.
2. Bring the water to the boil and pour it over the mixture.
3. Steep for 6–8 minutes and sweeten with coconut blossom sugar.

Recipe 5: Iced vanilla and mint tea

Ingredients

• 2 tsp green tea or Guayusa PURE
• a generous pinch of Amazonian vanilla powder
• 1 handful fresh mint leaves
• 500 ml water
• Ice cubes

Method

1. Put the Amazonian vanilla powder, green tea or GUYA, and mint leaves in a teapot.
2. Heat the water to 80°C for green tea or 100°C for GUYA, then pour it over the mixture.
3. Steep for 3 minutes with green tea or 10 minutes with GUYA. Leave to cool and serve with ice cubes.

Recipe 6: Vanilla and lavender tea

Ingredients

• 2 tsp lavender flowers
• a generous pinch of Amazonian vanilla powder
• 500 ml water

Method

1. Put the Amazonian vanilla and lavender flowers in a teapot.
2. Bring the water to the boil and pour it over the mixture.
3. Steep for 5 minutes, then serve.

Recipe 7: Vanilla and honey tea

Ingredients

• 2 tsp black tea (or Guayusa DARK)
• a generous pinch of Amazonian vanilla powder
• 500 ml water
• 1 tbsp honey

Method

1. Put the Amazonian vanilla and black tea or Guayusa DARK in a teapot.
2. Bring the water to the boil and pour it over the mixture.
3. Steep for 5 minutes with black tea or 10 minutes with Guayusa DARK, then sweeten with honey.

What makes Vanilla Odorata (Amazonian vanilla) special

Vanilla Odorata is a distinctive type of vanilla from the Amazon, known for its sweet, floral flavour. It is grown sustainably and is ideal for making tea. You can find out more about this variety’s history, origins and processing here.