Christie C. One of my favorite teas to start the day with is green tea, and one of my favorite ways to brew it is with a generous dose of honey and a mint leaf. This spearmint honey green tea is as relaxing as it is delicious.
“There is something in the nature of tea that leads us into a world of quiet contemplation of life.” ―
Lin Yutang, The Importance of Living
Why You’ll Love This Spearmint Honey Green Tea Recipe
- Only 3 ingredients
- Deliciously sweet with a pop of mint
- Healthy juice alternative
Inspiration for Spearmint Honey Green Tea Recipe
When I was fresh out of college, I worked my first big girl job at a domestic violence shelter. There, I met a beautiful mother of two from Morocco who was so thankful for the help she received there that she cooked a feast for us. It consisted of basmati rice laden with cumin and shredded chicken, an upside down pineapple cake, and tea served on her mother’s handcrafted berrad—a Moroccan tea pot.
She had given us the most delicious food made out of love, and I remember her kind gesture to this day. She told me how she made the rice and tea, and I still make both. This tea is the beverage she taught me how to brew, and like most mothers that come from large cooking families, her instructions were along the lines of “You’ll know when it’s ready.” It is green tea sweetened with honey and spiced up with fresh mint leaves.
Types of Green Tea You Can Use
The easiest way to brew this tea is with a green tea bag, but I urge you to try loose leaf tea. Unlike tea bags, loose tea is typically of better quality and more complex in flavor. It does have to be brewed with a strainer or separate tea bag. You can make your own tea bags as well; I often sew my own out of linen scraps.
Not all green teas are equal. For a basic brew, use Sencha green tea, which has a well-balanced astringent flavor. Fortunately, this is the most common tea sold in stores, available from Bigelow, Celestial Seasonings, and supermarket brands.
Other delicious varieties of green tea you can use are gunpowder green tea (bold and refreshing), Dragonwell green tea (nutty and earthy) and Genmaicha (toasted rice). If you decide to try matcha, just keep in mind that the flavor will be very different.
Type of Mints You Can Use
My old acquaintance had used fresh peppermint in her tea, but I like to use fresh spearmint. Spearmint is mild and sweet without the harsh bite of peppermint.
If you have them in your garden (or if they are available at your local farmer’s market), you can also use chocolate mint (sweet and peppery), orange mint (sweet and citrusy), or ginger mint (sweet and gingery).
Experiment to see which ones you like best. If fresh mint is not available to you, dried mint can be used, but in smaller quantities.
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Special Tools and Equipment
- Hot water kettle
- Tea pot
- Strainer, sieve, or tea bags
Spearmint Honey Green Tea
Ingredients
- 8 tbsp (16g) loose green tea, or 4 tea bags
- 4 cups (947ml) water
- 3 large sprigs fresh spearmint, or your favorite mint. If fresh mint is unavailable, use 1 tbsp of dried leaves.
- 1/4 cup (60g) honey, or to taste
Instructions
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Fill a large tea bag or mesh strainer with the loose tea and place it into a tea pot. If using store bought tea bags, just place the tea bags into the tea pot. Add the mint.
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In a kettle, bring the water to a simmer.
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Pour the water into the tea pot and cover the pot. Allow it to steep for 2 to 4 minutes.
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Stir in the honey until fully combined.
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Serve the tea with your favorite scones, biscuits, or other goodies.
