Homemade tea blends are sure to please the tea lover on your list. This post shares my three favourite homemade tea blends for the holiday. These make a lovely hostess gift for holiday gatherings, for teachers, coworkers, or stocking stuffers. With the addition of a handmade gift label, anyone can brew the perfect cup of holiday cheer.
This post is sponsored by All-Clad Canada however all thoughts and opinions are my own.
THIS GIVEAWAY IS CLOSED
December has arrived and with it, all the cozy holiday feels associated with this most wonderful time of year. My heart gets especially glow-y when I hear the echo of Nat King Cole or Bing Crosby in the distance as I work away. I just love the holidays and the extra time at home with friends and loved ones!
The holidays in our home
Our holidays are kept minimal and simple, but 100% from the heart. We fill the home with lots of nature and the fruits of the season.
I love to decorate with fresh cedar branches, the warm glow of candles (kept away from little hands, of course), hazelnuts from the local farm, pomegranates and plenty of warm blankets and throws.
Under the tree, a gift for everyone on the list, wrapped up in brown paper and twine. When I can't gift something homemade, I always opt for quality; something that will see many years of good use, rather than end up in a landfill.
Taking time to enjoy tea
And let's not forget tea! There is always plenty of hot tea to go around. The holidays can keep us extra busy, so I make sure to take time to relax with a warm mug of something delicious.
My old kettle has been on the fritz lately, so you can imagine my joy when the lovely people at All-Clad Canada got in touch and surprised me the perfect gift; the All-Clad stainless steel 2 Quart Tea Kettle!
A few words about my sponsor All-Clad Canada
All-Clad is well-known for their superior quality handcrafted kitchenware and accessories; there is a reason they are the top choice of professional culinary leaders and four star kitchens throughout the world.
All-Clad products makes gifting quality that much easier in this day and age! I am so happy to be partnering with them this season.
The brilliant polished finish and quality feel of the Al-Clad 2qt tea kettle superior to any tea kettle I've used in the past.ย It's crafted solely from stainless steel with an ergonomically designed handle fastened with rivets. ย
Obviously, I couldn't wait to brew my first cup of tea; the experience was nothing short of perfect. It boils water quickly and efficiently and lets out a pleasant-to-the-ear whistle.
It lifts and pours with ease and the lid securely fits into the opening so there is little worry about steam escaping onto my hand. Plus, it boils plenty of hot water, enough to steep several mugs of tea at once (I had to boil water twice with my last kettle)!
It is a stunning piece that I look forward to showcasing on my stove top for years to come.
Homemade Tea Blends for holiday gift-giving
I've created three lovely holiday homemade tea blends inspired by the this beautiful kettle:
- Winter Spice blend
- Vanilla Rose Rooibos blend
- Chocolate Peppermint blend
These are loose leaf blends that they make for easy zero-waste gifting; package them in a reusable glass jar with a lid, and tie on a reusable tea strainer (or reusable tea bag) if you like.
Add a handmade label with brewing instructions
A little note with brewing instructions add the final touch. Homemade teas make great stocking-stuffers or a delightful hostess gift. They also make a charming gift for the coworkers or school teachers on your list!
A thank you to my sponsor
A big thank you goes out the wonderful people at All-Clad Canada for partnering with me this holiday season!ย For more information on their quality handcrafted kitchenware, visit them at www.all-clad.ca and follow on Facebook or Twitter @AllCladCanada.ย Wishing you a very happy holiday from The Simple Green and All-Clad Canada!
This post and giveaway are sponsored by All-Clad Canada; all thoughts an opinions are my own and I only share quality products that I personally use and love!ย Thank you for supporting brands that help make The Simple Green Possible!ย
More Recipes
If you like the idea of homemade gifting, cookies make an excellent edible gift for the right person on your list. Feel free to check out some of my favourite vegan cookie recipes below.
Chewy Vegan Ginger Spice Cookies
Chocolate Dipped Olive Oil Biscotti Cookies
Vegan Chocolate Peppermint Cake
Homemade Holiday Tea Blends [Three Ways]
Ingredients
Winter Spice Holiday Blend
- ยฝ cup organic loose leaf Earl grey
- ยผ cup organic dried currants, roughly chopped
- 2 tablespoon organic sliced or slivered almonds
- 2 teaspoon organic whole clove buds
- 1 medium organic orange peel, dried (see notes below)
- ยผ teaspoon organic fresh grated nutmeg
- 8 small organic cinnamon sticks
Chocolate Peppermint Blend
- ยฝ cup organic loose leaf peppermint tea leaves
- ยผ cup Dutch process cocoa powder
- 2 tablespoon organic cacao nibs, finely chopped
Vanilla Rose Rooibos Blend
- ยฝ cup organic loose leaf red rooibos tea
- ยผ cup organic food-grade dried rose petals, crushed
- ยฝ teaspoon organic dried vanilla bean seeds
Instructions
Winter Spice Blend:
- Prepare the dried orange peel: using a vegetable peeler, remove a thin layer of peel from the orange and place on a cooling rack. Leave to dry a room temperature for 12 hours or until fully dry.
- Finely chop the dried orange peel, then combine with the remaining ingredients. Store in an airtight container until ready to brew. Note: You may add the cinnamon sticks to the container or bundle and tie them to the storage container; see brewing notes below on how to use the cinnamon sticks.
Chocolate Peppermint Blend:
- Add the peppermint leaves to a small bowl. Sift in the cocoa powder and add the cacao nibs and stir to combine. Store in an airtight container until ready to brew.
Vanilla Rose Rooibos blend:
- Stir all ingredients together in a small bowl. Store in an airtight container until ready to brew.
BREWING INSTRUCTIONS
- Use 1 rounded teaspoon of tea blend per 250ml of kettle boiled water. Place tea blend in a reusable tea bag or tea strainer and place in your favourite mug, then carefully add hot water. Each blend should steep for 5-10 min. Sweeten to taste. For the winter spice blend, steep with 1 cinnamon stick tossed into the mug.
Notes
Nutrition
This is an approximation of the nutrition offered in this recipe, and is created using a nutrition calculator. I am not a nutritionist and cannot guarantee accuracy. If your health depends on nutrition information, please calculate again with your preferred calculator.
Disclaimer
all recipes on The Simple Green are developed and tested in a Canadian kitchen, at normal elevation, using electric appliances and ingredients available in Canada. Results may vary.
I have been trying to experiment more with tea. I m loving this post. And heading to the kitchen to make me a cup! Try your grocer s bulk section, some even carry bulk teas like chamomile! Or Amazon might have them too!
Yes there are good options available in bulk as well!