Tea is the elixir of life. ~Lao Tzu
What a morning without a cup of tea, at least I cannot face mornings without this warm cup of magic potion. It gives me the energy for a busy day ahead, and I prefer good quality teas always rather than regular CTC chai. Being a tea person I constantly look out for new tea blends and love to experiment with them for creating new recipes. The recent collaboration with Saffron Cup amazed me with their wide range of artisanal teas and I was thoroughly impressed by looking at their legacy of a 60-year-old family tradition of growing the finest teas in the country. They’re the right brand if you’re looking for hand-curated teas, which are blended with luxury ingredients sourced from the finest growers around the world.
They grow, pluck, manufacture, pack, blend and taste each and every cup of tea. They’re involved in every step of the process, and they’ve some of the best industry veterans working with them. They’re literally what you call farm to table, and there is true passion in everything they produce.
Their tins have loose tea, and their cartons carry pyramid tea bags (which are also produced by their machine and allow for maximum flavour to come through). You will see when you pour hot water into the cup, the leaves inside the tea bag will expand and fully open up (as opposed to traditional tea bags which are usually packed with dust).
In general, they’ve 4 categories from which you can choose – Greens, Darjeelings, Chais and Herbals. Saffron Cup is currently available on Amazon India, Spencer’s stores throughout the country, Metro Cash & Carry, Big Basket and Living Free (a boutique in Kolkata). And you can always buy online directly from their website.
I chose to try four of their artisanal tea blends (check them below). These teas fascinated me with their aroma, smooth taste and the overall experience was so refreshing that I’m totally on Saffron Cup’s teas these days.
Lovely Lemon
An aromatic, fresh and lemony tea that is generously paired with Himalayan lemongrass and an aromatic lemon oil. Very refreshing!
- Tea Profile: Medium bodied with a fresh, lemon linger
- Taste & Strength: Smooth and very refreshing
- When to Drink: Any time of day! Great summer afternoon tea.
- Steeping: Steep 1 teaspoon or 1 silken triangle bag in water that is just about to boil for 3-5 minutes.
Bed of Roses
A delicate tea made from the tenderest early spring or late autumn leaves and buds which are hand-rolled and sun-dried. This delicate white tea is then blended with the most aromatic rose oil and then lovingly drizzled with rose petals to create a phenomenal tea.
- Tea Profile: Light-body with a floral, rose linger.
- Taste & Strength: Smooth, refreshing and floral.
- When to Drink: Great palate-cleanser or afternoon tea.
- Steeping: Steep 1 teaspoon or 1 silken triangle bag in water that is just about to boil for 3-4 minutes.
Kashmiri Kahwa
Kahwa is a traditional Kashmiri tea, which delivers a sweet saffron flavor along with the delicate notes of cinnamon, almond and spices providing exceptional flavor.
- Tea Profile: Medium bodied liquor with a sweet linger
- Taste & Strength: Fresh and sweet
- When to Drink: Any time of day
- Steeping: Steep 1 teaspoon or 1 silken triangle bag in water that is just about to boil for 4-5 minutes.
Signature Darjeeling
This is a signature blend of high-grown, first and second flush Darjeeling tea from the south-facing slopes of Kurseong valley. It combines the light cup and distinct flavor of the first flush with a fuller body and briskness of the second flush to deliver a unique muscatel flavor.
- Tea Profile: Medium-bodied with a characteristic muscatel Darjeeling finish
- Taste & Strength: Earthy and refreshing and bursting with flavor
- When to Drink: Any time of day
- Steeping: 1 teaspoon or 1 silken triangle bag in boiling water for 3-5 minutes
As I was trying Saffron Cup tea blends regularly, I thought the refreshing taste of their teas would match really well if I try to make summer coolers with them. I tried blending the distinctive aroma of Darjeeling tea with a few spices here, and the Latte tasted so exquisite with pounded spices along with freshly brewed tea that two glasses were not enough for us. Feel free to double the ingredients as per your desire. I will be running you through my recipe for this Iced Tea Latte. Read on to know more.
Darjeeling Iced Tea Latte
Serves- 2
Ingredients
- Saffron Cup’s Signature Darjeeling tea– 2 tsp
- Water- 246ml
- Ice cubes
- Milk- 145ml (cold)
- Cinnamon powder- ½ tsp
- Dry ginger powder/Sonth- 1 tsp
- Caster sugar/White or Brown powdered sugar- 4 tbsp
Method
In a saucepan, bring water to a boil. Reduce to a simmer, add cinnamon powder, dry ginger powder, sugar and Darjeeling tea. Cover the pan and steep for 5 minutes. Uncover and pour tea concentrate through a fine mesh strainer to a cup. Let the tea concentrate cooled completely at room temperature. When cooled keep the cup in refrigerator for a few hours. You can make ahead the tea concentrate and it can be refrigerated up to 1 week in an airtight glass jar.
Fill 2 glasses with ice cubes. Pour tea concentrates over the ice equally in two glasses, add in milk. Stir and sprinkle some cinnamon powder on top (optional).
Your Darjeeling Iced Tea Latte is ready, serve immediately.
