Create Your Own Tea Blends with Kitchen Spices

Your Kitchen Shelf Is Your Tea Workshop

Tea blending may bring expensive tea leaves to mind, but kitchen spices are more than enough to begin. With just a piece of cinnamon, a few slices of ginger, and some dried mandarin peel, you can brew a warm, fragrant pot of tea. Change only the proportions and the same ingredients create an entirely different flavor, making this a lifelong hobby once you learn the basics.

Beginner Supplies and Budget

Half the ingredients are probably already in your kitchen. Even if you buy them new, you can enjoy this hobby for quite a while for around 10,000 to 20,000 won. The difficulty level is very low. As long as you measure properly and follow the steeping time, it is hard to fail.

• Base spices (cinnamon sticks, dried ginger, cloves): 2,000 to 4,000 won each at the supermarket
• Aromatic ingredients (dried mandarin peel, dried apple, chrysanthemum, etc.): already at home or 3,000 to 5,000 won
• Sweetness (honey, dried jujube): use what you have at home, 0 won
• Small strainer or tea filter bag: 2,000 to 3,000 won
• 350 to 500 ml mug or small teapot: something you already have at home

Basic Single-Cup Recipe

How to Find Your Own Ratio

1. Make the basic recipe exactly as written once so you can remember the reference flavor.
2. Next, change only one ingredient. For example, double the ginger, or remove the mandarin peel and add apple instead.
3. Write a one-line note about the changed ratio and how it felt that day, such as: double ginger = warming inside, too spicy.
4. Once you have three combinations you like, portion each serving into tea filter bags in advance to make your own personal tea bags.
5. When giving it as a gift, include a small note with the ratio. That way the recipient can recreate the same flavor.