Tea-Infused Everything

There are certain phrases that suddenly seem to be everywhere.  One doesn’t have to look hard to find ads for products that are “gluten-free,” have “no trans fats,” or are “tea-infused.”

These days it seems that you could find a tea-infused version of every product on the market.  Whether savory or sweet, for eating or for beauty, tea seems to be in everything.

One of the hottest areas of product development has been with tea-infused chocolates and candies.  Whether in the form of bars or truffles or even “pots de creme,” the possibilities are decadent and delicious. I’ve tried chocolates with oolong, Earl Grey, green teas, and unique flavors like osmanthus.  The synergy of the chocolate and tea can add depth and interest.

Chocolate is not the only sweet product available.  There are tea-infused mints, gum, and hard candies on the market.  Green tea ice cream and tea-infused cakes, scones, and cookies are also popping up in supermarkets and cafes around the country.

Restaurant menus have been steadily including more tea-infused items.  Tea rubs flavor chicken and pork, tea smoking enhances ribs, and steeped tea flavor rices and potato.  The savory nature of these dishes brings out the earthiness and vegetal notes that many teas can provide.  The myriad of tea flavors make this a rich area for exploration.

Cocktail lists are another place that we are increasingly seeing tea as an ingredient. There are tea-infused gins and vodkas and even a green tea liqueur.  Bars and hotels are creating tea-infused ports, tea martinis, and other exotic beverages.  There are infusers designed for steeping tea in alcohol and a profusion of cocktail recipes available online and in books.

If you haven’t found enough tea in your food products, you can explore the wide variety of tea-infused beauty products.  Green tea is pervasive here. One can find green tea in hand lotions and moisturizers.  It is appearing in make-up removers, lip balms, body washes, and soaps.  White tea is also gaining ground in this area, as well as plants used for tisanes like rooibos.

It will be interesting to see how long this focus on “tea-infused” lasts.  In the meantime, we’ll keep our eyes on the new products, and hope to see continuing exploration of how tea can affect our daily lives.