The Art Of Tea Blending

Tea blending is the art of mixing different varieties of herbs and loose leaf teas to create a unique, one-of-a-kind taste. There is no right or wrong way to blend tea – it's really about what you like best. A little extra mint or just a hint of lemon, blending is an art. And it's an art that Promilla Mohan, owner of the nation's oldest organic tea company, Davidson's Organic Teas, has been doing her entire life.

Growing up in the Darjeeling Himalayan Mountains, tea blending and tea parties were part of Mohan's daily routine.

Her grandfather was the first to grow tea, then her father. Now, Mohan is a third generation tea grower.

"I remember playing with different types of tea leaves and my mother asking us what we wanted to drink that day," recalls Mohan. "Every day we sat down together and blended our own teas. We always knew that tea time was family time."

Mohan's favorite part of tea blending is the surprise each blend brings.

"No two recipes can be the same," said Mohan. "Whatever I made yesterday will never be the same today."

Loose leaf tea and herbs can be found at many local specialty grocery stores and food co-ops, and for those living in more remote regions, Mohan recently put the finishing touches on Davidson's Tea Blending Kit. Containing quantities of white, black, green and red teas along with a variety of herbs, dried flowers, tea bags and a recipe book, the kit is a great introduction to tea blending.

Promilla's Tips for Tea Blending:

1. Look at the tea before you blend and know what it looks like. Black, green, white and red teas are the basics and all look and taste different. Drink with your eyes first, then with your palette.

2. Before you blend, taste! It's hard to know what will blend well with what if you don't taste them individually first.

3. Aroma is just as important as the sight and taste. Smell the different ingredients and pick your favorites.

4. Tea blending is just like cooking. Don't get carried away and add too many ingredients. Often times, a little goes a long way. Just remember, you can always add more next time.

5. Keep it simple and have fun with it. Start with common flavors and work your way up from there.

Herbal Chamomile & Fruit

Ingredients:

1. Rosehips (35%)

2. Chamomile & orange peel (30% each)

3. Lemon peel & lemon myrtle (5% each)

Herbal Te de Hibiscus

Ingredients:

1. Hibiscus (65%)

2. Orange peel (5%)

3. Cinnamon & Lemon myrtle (15% each)