Spices and tea have a long and lovely history together. Whether you are a true tea blender or just want to enhance a tea that you purchase from a vendor, adding spices can make your teas truly unique!

Here are some blending tips for our most popular spices:

Cinnamon – Cinnamon is a favorite among tea drinkers invoking childhood memories of snickerdoodle cookies, mulled cider, and cinnamon rolls. Added to tea it offers comfort and sweetness without added sugars! A true crowd-pleaser.

Ginger – Also very popular, this spice has gained popularity in recent years for its taste as well as reputed health benefits. In a tea, it adds warmth and a bit of fire! As a root spice, its grounding yet uplifting and can take a tea blend in a new direction. Use sparingly but enjoy its popularity.

Cardamom – This spice is available in two forms. First there are the seeds, which are small and brown but very fragrant. They are packed with flavor and aroma, so they offer a lot of bang for their buck. The more popular cardamom pods are visually beautiful with a lovely bright green color, but less intensely fragrant. Still beautiful to use in a blend but not as potent as the seeds. For both forms, the flavor is on the spectrum between lemony and camphor and can add an exotic element to your blend. Cardamom is an essential ingredient to a classic masala chai blend.

Cloves - The dried flower bud of a tree native to the Maluku Islands in Indonesia but now propagated elsewhere, cloves are bright, sweet, and spicy. They also add a touch of sweetness but can quickly overpower other flavors in a tea. Use sparingly to create a balanced blend.

Licorice root – Licorice in any form can be a bit divisive. People seem to love it or hate it. Perhaps for this reason, use it sparingly in a blend, but soft touches can balance astringency with its natural sweetness, which is a big plus for those who like sweet things but need to watch their sugar intake.

Turmeric – A golden spice that is enjoying a long wave of popularity, it can add a touch of peppery earthiness to a blend as well as intense golden yellow color. Essential for a golden latte and nicely paired with ginger and cinnamon in herbal blends.

If you try your hand at blending, these spices can work a little magic for you. All tend to release more flavor during longer infusions, so keep this in mind when working with delicate teas like green or white. You can use any to augment spice notes in existing teas or devise something completely on your own. The only limit is your imagination!