by Tea Master Daniela Cubelic

This dreamy, icy drink takes 10 minutes or less to make & can satisfy a craving for a milkshake, frozen latte or other blended drink, but it’s secretly actually very good for body & mind. 

Treat yourself to a Tea Dreamshake whenever you need a pick-me-up or you’re feeling stressed. 

Kids love this drink & so does the kid inside of you!

Have it between meals, before or after a walk, after exercise, or anytime you need some quick, healthy energy & want to promote a healthier blood sugar balance. 

It contains minerals & vitamins linked to calm & heart health, including potassium, B6 & magnesium, along with tea (of course!). 

This recipe can be made with any kind of tea, including herbal, green, oolong or black tea. Researchers have linked green & black tea to stress-relieving qualities. In fact, a study found that consuming black tea after everyday stresses helped the body recover from stress more rapidly. Green teas are also prized for their ability to aid mental focus while, at the same time, making you feel calmer. 

All you need in order to make this recipe are 3 ingredients: tea, a frozen banana & non-dairy milk, but the result is far more enticing & luxurious. Make it & you’ll see what I mean. 

For added benefits & to help stave off hunger, you can also add 1 teaspoon of hazelnut or flaxseed oil. The hazelnut oil will enhance the dessert-like quality of the shake. 

The banana is naturally sweet, but if you’re craving a touch more, I recommend maple syrup or making your own Tea Flavoured Syrup. 

Fruity, spicy & minty teas all make divine Tea Dreamshakes. 

Some of my favourites include Chocolate Hug, Peach Paradise, Vanilla Plantation, Silk Road Chai, London Fog, Imperial Earl Grey, Earl Green, Sour Cherry, Wildberry Wave & Herbal Chai. 

You can also add cocoa powder or raw cocoa for added decadence. When chocolate is added, any teas with mint make amazing chocolate Tea Dreamshakes. Try Angelwater, Westcoast Peppermint & Casablanca. 

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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.

 

TEA DREAMSHAKE

gluten-free, dairy-free & vegan

makes 1 serving

INGREDIENTS
1 teaspoon SILK ROAD tea
½ cup boiling water
1 frozen banana
½ cup chilled non-dairy milk (if the milk is coming out of a fresh container & isn’t cold, quickly shake the amount you are using over ice to chill it rapidly)

optional:
1 tsp. hazelnut or flaxseed oil
1 tsp. maple syrup 

make a chocolate shake: add 1–2 teaspoons cocoa powder 

DIRECTIONS

1. Bring water to a boil & measure ½ cup water & use it to brew a tea concentrate, by pouring over 1 teaspoon SILK ROAD tea. See below for instructions—the water temperature & steeping time will depend on the type of tea you are making.

2. Combine all ingredients in a blender on high until your Dreamshake is smooth & creamy. Drink immediately.

 

BREWING TEA FOR RECIPES - SPECIAL INSTRUCTIONS

When using tea for cooking, the proportion of tea to water often needs to be increased, as compared to when you’re making a cup of tea. This allows the flavor of the tea to come through better, while also providing added nutrients to the food.

We refer to this more concentrated version of tea as a “tea concentrate” in recipes. Follow the ratios of water to tea we recommend in each recipe, as they vary.

However, unless otherwise noted in the recipe, you should still steep the tea according to the following chart below—using the water temperature & steeping times listed here. This prevents the tea from undercooking (too little flavour is released) or overcooking (it becomes bitter or flat). Different classifications of tea (such as herbal, green, oolong or black teas) require different water temperatures & steeping times to bring out the best flavour. 

HERBAL:  bring water to a full, rolling boil, steep 7-10 minutes

GREEN: bring water to just before the boil, steep 1-3 minutes

OOLONG: bring water just to the boil, steep 5-7 minutes

BLACK: bring water to a full, rolling boil, steep 2-5 minutes