What Is Tea and How Can I Use It?

Wondering what to do with tea? This guide covers how to pick it, cook it, store it, and swap it — with 37 recipes to put it to work.

Nutrition

Food group

Tea is a member of the Beverages US Department of Agriculture nutritional food group.

How much does tea weigh?

Related

Beverages

Recipes using tea

There are 37 recipes that contain this ingredient.

Grilled Portobello Salad with Goat Cheese

Broiled portobello mushrooms sliced over mixed greens tossed with Earl Grey tea vinaigrette and topped with creamy goat cheese and fresh tomatoes for an elegant vegetarian main.

Traditional Sticky Toffee Pudding

This is a traditional English sweet. Moist, rich cake with dates, covered in a caramel/toffee sauce. Best served warm.

Aztec Punch

Aztec Punch is a big-batch tequila cocktail with grapefruit juice, dark tea, lemon juice, and cinnamon served over ice. Tart, warm-spiced, and built to serve 20 thirsty guests.

Asian Honey-Tea Grilled Shrimp

Shrimp marinated in honey, orange spice tea, and rice vinegar, then grilled on skewers. Reduced marinade becomes a gingery dipping sauce.

Jim's All Bran Bread

All Bran bread soaked overnight in strong tea with mixed dried fruit and golden syrup. A dense, malty British tea bread that improves with age, served sliced and buttered.

T's Banana Cream Pie

From-scratch banana cream pie with tea-infused pastry cream, a flaky pate brisee crust, and billowy whipped cream. A bakery-level banana pie that's worth every minute of the effort.

Almond Cooler

Refreshing iced tea float with almond-flavored herbal tea and scoops of lemon or orange sherbet. Light, cooling beverage perfect for summer afternoons.

Stuffed Prunes

Tea-soaked prunes stuffed with a brandy and orange zest filling, glazed in sugar syrup. An elegant French-style confection for your petit four tray.

The Joe Joe Juice...

It's not the Ron Ron Juice but the Joe Joe Juice. 2 Cups of Ice 2 Probiotic Mango Flavored Yogurts (layogurt) Half a can of Arizona Half Iced Tea & Mango Juice Cup of Grey Goose Vodka oh dizzle.

Mexican T Punch

Mexican T Punch blends tequila with cold tea, pineapple juice, honey, lime, cinnamon, and aromatic bitters. A batch cocktail with warm spice and tropical citrus.

Nanny's Honey Tea Sandwiches

Nanny's honey tea sandwiches pair a soft honey-and-tea loaf with lemony banana filling, cut into flower shapes and dotted with chocolate sprinkles. A dainty treat for showers, birthdays, and tea parties.

Slush

Vodka slush made with orange juice, lemonade, tea, and simple syrup, frozen overnight into a scoopable boozy slush. A big-batch party drink that stays perfectly slushy.

Thai Tea

Homemade Thai iced tea brewed strong, sweetened with sugar, and topped with creamy half and half or sweetened condensed milk. That iconic orange drink from your favorite Thai restaurant, made at home.

Lemon Tea Snow with Strawberry Sauce

Lemon tea snow with strawberry sauce: a light, airy gelatin dessert flavored with lemon and instant tea, beaten with egg whites into a cloud. Served with a warm-set strawberry-currant sauce. Retro Southern tearoom fare.

Tea Punch

Sparkling tea punch with strong brewed tea, fresh citrus juices, crushed pineapple, and grenadine, topped with fizzy club soda. This crowd-sized party punch serves 20 and comes together in 10 minutes flat.

Punch

Tea and fruit nectar punch with simple syrup and soda water. Use peach, mango, pear, or apricot nectar for a fizzy, refreshing party drink. Chill before serving.

Upside Down Apple Gingerbread

Upside-down apple gingerbread with sliced apples in brown sugar on the bottom, topped with a spiced molasses cake made with hot tea. A warm fall dessert inverted onto a plate.

Tea & Lemon Ice

Tea and lemon ice made with strong brewed tea, fresh lemon juice, sugar syrup, and a splash of carbonated water for lightness. A refreshing frozen dessert you can make without an ice cream maker.

Fortune Cookies (Traditional)

Traditional fortune cookies made from scratch with 9 ingredients including instant tea for authentic color and flavor. Chill the batter, work with cotton gloves, and fold while hot for bakery-quality results.

Susan's Apple Cake

Susan's apple cake is a one-bowl dump-and-bake with three whole apples, toasted walnuts, and a full tablespoon of cinnamon. The kind of homey loaf that improves the second day.

Peanut Sauce #1

Asian peanut sauce with peanut butter, soy sauce, chili oil, garlic, and brewed tea for a smooth base. A spicy, savory dipping sauce for noodles, spring rolls, and satay.

Artillery Punch

Artillery Punch - a historic large-batch party punch with rye whiskey, Jamaican rum, brandy, red wine, Benedictine, strong black tea, and citrus. Makes 25-30 cups, handle with care.

Upside-Down Apple Gingerbread

Upside-down apple gingerbread with caramelized apples over a dark, molasses-rich gingerbread cake spiced with cinnamon, ginger, and cloves. A warming autumn dessert.

Tea Loaf

British tea loaf with raisins and sultanas steeped overnight in cold tea, baked with brown sugar and self-rising flour. A no-butter fruit bread that's moist and dense.

Serves 100

Your go-to food quantity chart for feeding 100 guests. From fried chicken and baked ham to mashed potatoes and green beans, know exactly how many pounds and gallons to buy for your next big event.

All 37 recipes