Chocolate-Tea Popsicles
Experience the sinful taste of chocolate, paired with the cool, tingling freshness of mint or creamy coconut.
Homemade tea popsicles are easy to make & cost less than buying commercial popsicles, which usually contain a lot of sugar, artificial flavours, colourings, & preservatives. When making popsicles with tea, the amount of sugar that is used can be reduced, or eliminated entirely.
When adding sugar, honey or maple syrup to popsicles, it’s always best to dissolve the sweetener in hot tea first, & then add other ingredients. The sweeteners will combine with the rest of the ingredients much more effectively if they have been dissolved in hot tea beforehand.
Healthy Tip Accompanying this food item with the same tea used in the recipe (hot, iced, or as a tea latte) can enhance the enjoyment of all the flavours, as it adds a layer of complimentary flavour, which amplifies & brightens the taste of all the ingredients. Tea is also a delicious, low-calorie, healthy alternative to alcohol or sugary drinks.
As well, when you’re eating carbs or sweets, it can also be a great idea to reach for teas that help counteract these effects.
Mulberry tea has been used in Asian traditional medicine for hundreds of years as a way to support blood sugar balance & assist weight management. Studies are starting to support these ideas, & are finding that the mulberry can help block carbohydrate absorption.
Detox tea may be an even better choice when having rich or higher-fat foods, as well as carbs & sweets, as the herbs in it were traditionally consumed to counteract all three of these.
Accompanying treats or rich foods with a cup of Detox or Mulberry tea, or having these teas half an hour or an hour after eating, may be a healthier & smarter way to indulge.
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Get inspired with more tips, techniques & recipes - watch & learn directly from Tea Master Daniela Cubelic in this captivating VIDEO SERIES.
Learn how to make chai tea soup, tea hot chocolates, mulled cider teas, tea infused oatmeal, ice cream tea floats, tea lemonades, iced teas & more. You’ll also discover fascinating facts & info about the health benefits of tea, tea history & secrets for tea brewing.
WESTCOAST PEPPERMINT POPSICLE
Ingredients
2 tablespoons Westcoast Peppermint loose tea
1 tablespoon honey, cane sugar or brown sugar (optional)
1 tablespoon cocoa powder
2 cups non-dairy milk
Directions
1. Bring water to a full, rolling boil. Pour 2 cups water over 2 tbsp. loose tea. Steep for 10 minutes. Strain tea into a heatproof jug (plastic or stainless steel) & stir in sweetener to dissolve. Refrigerate until completely chilled.
2. Stir cocoa powder into 1⁄4 cup of non-dairy milk until it is fully dissolved. Slowly pour more milk into the cocoa powder mixture until it is completely & thoroughly combined. Stir in the chilled, sweetened tea with chocolate milk. Pour into popsicle molds, & freeze. Wait until popsicles are completely frozen before serving.
optional: Here are other teas which work well in this recipe, & can be substituted for the original tea listed in the recipe: Angelwater, & Allergy & Hay Fever. Spicy, citrusy & fruity flavours are also delicious with chocolate, try Sour Cherry or Herbal Chai.
CHOCOLATE HUG TEA COCONUT FUDGSICLE
This popsicle combines the intoxicating cocoa flavour of Chocolate Hug with rich coconut milk.
Ingredients
2 tablespoons Chocolate Hug loose tea: 1 cup water
1 tablespoon maple syrup or brown sugar (optional)
21⁄2 cups coconut milk
Directions
1. Bring water to a full, rolling boil. Pour 1 cup water over tea. Steep for 10 minutes. Strain tea into a heatproof jug (plastic or stainless steel) & stir in maple syrup to dissolve. Refrigerate until completely chilled.
2. Combine chilled tea with coconut milk. Pour into popsicle molds, & freeze. Wait until popsicles are completely frozen before serving.
Turn into an indulgent adult treat by adding 1/2 cup Bourbon or Irish Cream Whiskey before freezing. Note: Alcohol will prevent popsicles from freezing completely & solidly. Depending on the recipe, you can sometimes add a bit of alcohol to a popsicle, but beware, if the alcohol content is too high, your popsicle won’t freeze completely.
optional: The following teas also work well in this recipe, & can be substituted for the original tea listed in the recipe: Vanilla Plantation, Silk Road Chai or Peach Paradise.