Not just a drink! Cooking and Baking with Tea: A British Culinary Delight

Tea is much more than just a quintessential British beverage. Its delicate flavours and aromas can elevate a variety of culinary creations, from savoury dishes to delightful desserts.

Infusing tea into your cooking and baking not only adds a unique twist but also pays homage to a tradition steeped in history. 

Here's how you can incorporate tea into your culinary repertoire.

Choosing the Right Tea

The first step to cooking and baking with tea is selecting the appropriate type for your recipe. Different teas offer distinct flavours:

Black Tea: Robust and full-bodied, ideal for marinades, sauces, and desserts.

Green Tea: Light and slightly grassy, perfect for adding a fresh, subtle taste to savoury dishes and baked goods.

Earl Grey: With its hint of bergamot, it adds a fragrant citrus note to both sweet and savoury recipes.

Chai: Spicy and aromatic, chai can enhance the warmth and complexity of your dishes.

Savoury Dishes with Tea

Tea-Smoked Chicken

Ingredients:

2 boneless chicken breasts

2 tablespoons loose black tea leaves

2 tablespoons rice

2 tablespoons brown sugar

Salt and pepper to taste

Instructions:

Season the chicken breasts with salt and pepper.

Line a wok with foil, and place the tea leaves, rice, and brown sugar in the centre.

Place a wire rack over the mixture and arrange the chicken on the rack.

Cover the wok and heat over medium-high heat until smoke begins to form.

Reduce the heat and smoke the chicken for about 20 minutes.

Finish cooking the chicken in a preheated oven at 180°C (350°F) for an additional 15 minutes or until fully cooked.

Green Tea-Infused Rice

Ingredients:

200g basmati rice

2 green tea bags

500ml boiling water

Salt to taste

Instructions:

Brew the green tea by steeping the tea bags in boiling water for 5 minutes.

Remove the tea bags and pour the tea over the rice in a saucepan.

Add a pinch of salt and bring to a boil.

Reduce the heat, cover, and simmer for 15 minutes or until the rice is tender and the liquid absorbed.

Fluff the rice with a fork before serving.

Sweet Treats with Tea

Earl Grey Shortbread Biscuits

Ingredients:

200g unsalted butter, softened

100g caster sugar

2 teaspoons finely ground Earl Grey tea leaves

300g plain flour

Pinch of salt

Instructions:

Preheat the oven to 160°C (320°F) and line a baking tray with parchment paper.

In a bowl, cream together the butter, sugar, and ground Earl Grey tea leaves until light and fluffy.

Gradually add the flour and salt, mixing until a dough forms.

Roll out the dough on a floured surface to about 1cm thick.

Cut into desired shapes and place on the prepared baking tray.

Bake for 15-20 minutes or until the edges are lightly golden.

Cool on a wire rack before serving.

Matcha (Green Tea) Cheesecake

Ingredients:

200g digestive biscuits, crushed

100g unsalted butter, melted

600g cream cheese, softened

150g caster sugar

200ml double cream

3 tablespoons matcha green tea powder

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Instructions:

Preheat the oven to 160°C (320°F). Grease and line a 20cm springform tin.

Mix the crushed digestive biscuits with the melted butter and press into the base of the tin.

In a large bowl, beat the cream cheese and sugar until smooth.

Add the double cream, matcha powder, and vanilla extract, and mix until well combined.

Pour the mixture over the biscuit base and smooth the top.

Bake for 45-50 minutes or until the centre is set but still slightly wobbly.

Cool in the oven with the door ajar, then refrigerate for at least 4 hours before serving.

Tips for Cooking and Baking with Tea

Infusion Time: Be mindful of how long you steep your tea to avoid bitterness. Typically, 3-5 minutes is sufficient.

Grinding Tea Leaves: For recipes requiring ground tea leaves, use a spice grinder or a mortar and pestle to achieve a fine texture.

Balancing Flavours: Tea can be delicate or bold. Taste your dish as you go to ensure the tea complements rather than overpowers other ingredients.

Cooking and baking with tea opens up a world of culinary possibilities, blending traditional flavours with innovative techniques. Whether you’re a seasoned chef or an enthusiastic home cook, experimenting with tea can add a new dimension to your dishes. So, brew a pot, get creative, and enjoy the delicious results!