Who said tea is just for the cold weather!? Tea popsicles are the perfect treat to help you make it through the summer. Whether you're craving something cold and sweet or you need an afternoon energy boost, tea popsicles certainly rise to the occasion. And the best part? You can make them with absolutely any kind of tea! With so many options and so much versatility, tea popsicles are sure to be a cool summer staple.
Sips by is a personalized tea discovery subscription. Each month, we match tea drinkers across the U.S. with delicious teas from over 150 global tea brands that we’re sure they’ll love. Members receive 4 teas chosen just for them in every box. Learn more about our tea subscription service.
How to Make Tea Popsicles
Tea popsicles are super easy to personalize to your taste and preferences. Here are some factors to consider when making your pops.
TYPE OF TEA Popsicles can be made with any and all types of tea. Whatever tea you have in your kitchen cupboard will work well! However, certain flavors can lend themselves to being sweetened and frozen a little better than others. Cacao or chocolate tea is an excellent choice for a classic fudge popsicle flavor. Or, fruit and berry blends, black tea and green tea, citrus, ginger, and mint work nicely because of their naturally strong flavors.
BREWING STYLE Both hot and cold brewing will result in delicious popsicles! Freezing tea will dull its flavor, so remember to brew your tea twice as strong as you normally would with either method. You can do this by brewing it for twice as long, or by using twice as much tea. When hot-brewing, over-steeping can sometimes result in a more bitter flavor, so using a larger quantity of tea can be a safer option. Cold-brewing requires a longer period of time (preferably overnight), but eliminates the risk of over-steeping and gives way to bright and refreshing flavors.
SWEETNESS Unsweetened tea popsicles can be tasty and refreshing, but if that's not your thing then there's a huge variety of sweeteners you can use to make these popsicles more to your taste. Stevia leaves can be a very convenient sweetener since they can be tossed in with the tea while it is brewing and bring about a natural sweetness to the tea itself. Honey is often used as a sweetener in tea and is a great option because of the way it complements the flavor of many teas and its numerous health benefits. Agave nectar is similar to honey and works well too. Simple syrups and maple syrups are great options too because they give popsicles a juicier, more syrupy texture. Lastly, fruit juice makes a wonderful sweetener and also gives popsicles both a delicious fruity flavor and a vibrant appearance. It's important to remember that sweeteners should be completely dissolved into the tea before freezing. If you're hot-brewing your tea, then it's easiest to completely incorporate the sweetener into the tea while it's still hot.
TEXTURE The texture of a popsicle is just as important as the taste! If you prefer a drier, less sticky pop, then add fewer extra ingredients to the brewed tea. Unsweetened tea popsicles will be hard and have the smooth, glassy texture of ice cubes. The more sweetener you add, the softer and more bitable the texture will become. If you prefer a creamier pop, there's a variety of ingredients that can be added to achieve this. Pureed fruit, either fresh or frozen, can be mixed into the tea to give the popsicles a sorbet-like texture. Milk (cow, almond, soy, coconut, etc.), heavy cream, whipped cream, whipped aquafaba, coconut cream, yogurt, and condensed milk can all be mixed into the tea to create creamier, more ice-cream-like popsicles.
MIX-INS There's so many ingredients that can be mixed into tea popsicles for added fun! Fruits like berries, bananas, apples, pineapples, melons, and citrus can be incorporated into the pops to make them more interesting, create more complex flavors, and give a satisfying crunch. Raisins, cherries, dried cranberries, granola, nuts, seeds, and toasted coconut flakes can give the popsicles a savory twist. Cookies and candies can make the popsicles sweeter, super fun, and more kid-friendly. Black tapioca pearls (boba) are an amazing option because they are both sweet and savory, and become satisfyingly chewy as the popsicles thaw.
Now that you know all about what makes a great tea popsicle, here's how to make some!
Tea Popsicles Recipe
What You'll Need
- Your favorite tea! You can use tea bags or loose leaf tea.
- Water
- Sweeteners (amount to taste)
- Texture-enhancers (amount to taste)
- Mix-ins (amount to taste)
- Popsicle mold
Directions
Cold or hot-brew the tea twice as strong as you normally would. Make enough tea to fill your popsicle mold. If you're using a loose-leaf tea, strain the tea.
If you're using a sweetener, add it to the tea. If you're hot-brewing, mix the sweetener into the tea while it's still hot and let the mixture cool. Make sure the sweetener is completely dissolved into the tea.
If you're using a texture-enhancer like pureed fruit, milk, or yogurt, add it into the tea and mix well. If you want the popsicles to appear swirled or marbled, stop mixing before the color of the mixture is uniform.
Next, add in any desired mix-ins like fruit, nuts, or tapioca pearls. Pour the mixture into the popsicle molds. Note that some mix-ins will likely sink to the bottom of the molds.
Let the tea popsicles freeze completely. To remove homemade popsicles from the molds, run the molds under warm water for a few seconds and the popsicles should slide right out. Serve immediately and enjoy!
* These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. These products are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.
SUMMER TEA SHOP
The sun is shining, birds are singing, and you're ready to spend summer days lounging in your backyard. And what's a better accessory to summer lounging than a cool glass of iced tea? Sips by has the summer iced teas, teaware, and tea accessories to make your own personal tea oasis. So whether you're looking for delicious fruity teas to cold brew, convenient iced tea pitchers to make sun tea, or kits to take your summer tea options to the next level, Sips by's Summer Tea Shop has the tools you need to have a refreshing summer.
Interested in trying these teas and others? Subscribers receive 4 teas chosen just for them in every box. Learn more about our tea subscription box or explore the loose leaf tea shop.
About Sips by: We’re a female-founded and led startup that makes discovering tea fun, personalized, and affordable. The Sips by Box is the only multi-brand, personalized tea subscription box. Each month, we match tea drinkers across the U.S. with delicious teas from over 150 global tea brands that we’re sure they’ll love. Based out of Austin, Texas, we are adept at savoring a hot mug even when it’s seasonally inappropriate.
1 Comment
These are delicious and so easy to make!