Category: Tea Cocktails

When I think of mom, I think of herbal tea. I can’t help myself. It must be all the childhood memories of peppermint tea for tummy aches or chamomile for restless nights. Although I myself am a bit of a purist preferring a nice loose leaf oolong or green tea, if I’m brewing up a cup for mom it’s still likely to be herbal.

There is one thing mom and I do have in common though, and that’s enjoying a well-crafted cocktail. In the spirit of celebrating mom, me, and tea I’ve whipped up a Mother’s Day CockTeas™ recipe sure to please generations young (but not too young) and old.

I had to start with Tea Phactory’s signature herbal blend, Raspberry Rush. We created this one with moms in mind and it’s only available from us. This herbal infusion, with a burst of “fresh from the garden” fruit flavor and a light citrus twist is sure to delight everyone. Raspberry Rush starts with the tang of hibiscus petals and cranberries and finishes with a sweet raspberry flavor. Combine with the bright floral notes of elderflower liqueur and you’re well on your way to a perfect Mother’s Day.

Raspberry Rosé Mother’s Day CockTeas™ Recipe

15mins
Serves 4

Ingredients:

• 4 oz Raspberry Rush syrup
• 2 oz St. Germain elderflower liqueur
• Brut Rose Champagne

Add Raspberry Rush herbal tea syrup and St. Germain liqueur to a cocktail shaker filled with ice. Shake and strain into four champagne saucers. Top with Brut Rosé Champagne. Garnish with orange peel and fresh raspberries.

Raspberry Rush Syrup

Ingredients

• 2tbs Tea Phactory Raspberry Rush loose leaf herbal tea
• 1 cup cold water
• 1 cup sugar

Bring water to a boil. Steep tea for 2-3 minutes. Mix hot, brewed tea with sugar. Combine well. Chill.

Now, a suggestion if I may. This is mom we’re celebrating and we are using Tea Phactory’s signature herbal tea blend, so let’s keep the trend and choose a proper Brut Rosé Champagne. Might I recommend the Louis Roederer Brut Rosé, the Moët & Chandon Rosé Imperial, or the lovely Veuve Clicquot Ponsardin Brut Rosé. Now, if you have a relationship or budget that far exceeds mine, by all means consider the Armand de Brignac Ace of Spades Rosé.

Whichever Rosé Champagne you choose, this herbal tea infused cocktail is pretty in pink just like the blanket mom wrapped me in the day she brought me home from the hospital. So raise your glass to the lady who gave you life. Cheers!

Oh wait, wait. I can’t disappoint mom, so before I let you go, one little lesson. Just like mom would have taught. Herbal “tea” isn’t actually tea you see. Only the beverage brewed from the leaf of the Camellia sinensis bush is actually tea. Remember from earlier? I’m a bit of a purist that way, loving the black teas, green teas, oolongs, and the like. Herbals, like our Raspberry Rush, are more technically referred to as herbal blends, herbal infusions or tisanes. But let’s not get too technical.

Enjoy the Mother’s Day CockTeas™, and don’t worry if you overindulge just a little. After all, you can always cure what ails you with some of our loose leaf Ginger Peach black tea. Just perfect to soothe the tummy and the soul. Unless mom talks you into some of the Peppy Mint.

Temperatures are hitting their zenith, calling for the ultimate summer refresher, and sangria is simply perfectly suited. But wait, it’s still swimsuit season, all that wine and juice and soda really rack up the calories. What if there was some way to enjoy the perfect hot weather libation without all the added sugar and calories? Here comes the other ultimate summer beverage to the rescue. Iced tea saves the day.

Tea Phactory’s Tropical Breeze Slim Sangria combines the benefits of healthy, zero-calorie, green tea with the magic of sangria. This recipe delivers about half the sugar and calories of a traditional sangria without the artificial sweeteners and chemical craziness of diet soda.

Our Tropical Breeze tea is a Chinese Sencha, a green tea with slender leaves that gives a natural, lightly-sweet flavor. The green tea leaves are combined with pineapple pieces and blue malva flowers for a delightful brew. Paired with pineapple wine, pineapple juice, and fresh fruit, it’s an enchanting alternative to heavier sangrias. Choose a coconut rum if you prefer a more pinacolada type flavor or go with spiced rum if coconut isn’t your thing.

Tropical Breeze Slim Sangria CockTeas™ Recipe

Ingredients:

• 3 Tbs. Tea Phactory Tropical Breeze loose leaf tea
• 1 bottle (750 mL) pineapple wine
• 1 can (6 Fl Oz) pineapple juice
• 1/2 cup coconut or spiced rum
• 2 cups fresh pineapple chunks
• 1 lime, sliced
• 1 lemon, sliced
• 1 orange, sliced

Directions:

1. Brew 3 Tbs. of Tea Phactory Tropical Breeze loose leaf tea in 1 liter of water, chill.
2. Combine chilled tea, pineapple wine, pineapple juice, rum, and sliced lime, lemon, and orange in a large pitcher, reserve some fruit for garnish.
3. Refrigerate Tropical Breeze Slim Sangria for 2-4 hours.
4. Stir before serving, pour over ice, garnish with fruit.

If you’re anything like me, when the temperature spikes cloyingly sweet drinks become intolerable. In addition to being lower calorie, Tropical Breeze Sangria is also less sweet. It strikes the ultimate balance.

Enjoy this refresher poolside or with a seasonal brunch or picnic. It’s the perfect summertime sipper.

What better time than Valentine’s Day to launch our CockTeas™ line of tea based and tea inspired cocktail recipes? Also, what other spirit than Champagne would do for such an occasion? The only question remaining was which of the amazing blends of Tea Phactory tea would be ideal to craft the perfect love inspired libation?

The answer was clear; Sweet Symphony. Its herbal bouquet, scented with wildflowers and roses, finishes with a sweet minty note. Roses are a traditional means of evoking affection and with the addition of mint you can seal each sip with a kiss.

Build this romantic cocktail right and its gorgeous red and pink ombre effect makes it a visual treat and a feast for all the senses.

Champagne Love Song CockTeas™

15 mins Serves 2

Ingredients:

• 1 oz Tea Phactory Sweet Symphony syrup (recipe below)
• 1 oz Pama pomegranate flavored liqueur
• 4 oz Champagne
• red rimming sugar
• pomegranate seeds for garnish

Directions:
Dampen rim of champagne flute with Sweet Symphony syrup and rim with red sugar. Add Sweet Symphony syrup and Pama to cocktail shaker with ice. Shake and strain into rimmed flute. Top gently with champagne for a layered or ombre effect. Garnish with pomegranate seeds.

Sweet Symphony Syrup

• 4 tbs Tea Phactory Sweet Symphony herbal tea
• 2 cups cold water
• 1 cup sugar

Bring water to a boil. Steep tea for 3-4 minutes. Mix 1 cup hot, brewed tea with sugar. Combine well. Chill.