Whether you are starting your morning or experiencing fatigue in the middle of a hectic workday, many people experience a strong craving for a hot cup of tea. However, boiling milk every single time, adding tea leaves, and preparing a fresh brew from scratch can be a time-consuming task. If you find yourself needing quick tea in such situations, a homemade tea premix can come to your rescue.
Tea premix is essentially a powdered instant blend that can be prepared in advance and stored safely in an airtight container. Whenever you feel like having tea, you simply need to add the required amount of powder into hot water and stir it thoroughly. However, this homemade premix differs from store-bought instant tea powders, allowing you to customize the ingredients according to your personal preference. Moreover, it is an ideal option for office-goers. If you do not get good tea at your office canteen, you can easily adopt this method to satisfy your tea cravings.
Ingredients needed for tea premix
To make this convenient blend, you will need milk powder, tea powder, sugar powder, cardamom powder, and a little ginger powder. If you prefer masala tea, you can also mix a very small quantity of cinnamon, cloves, and black pepper powder into the blend.
Step-by-step method to prepare the premix
First, take a clean and completely dry large bowl. Add milk powder and sugar powder to it. Next, mix in your preferred choice of tea powder and cardamom powder. If you desire the flavor of masala tea, you can add small amounts of ginger, cinnamon, clove, and black pepper powder. Mix all the components thoroughly so that the spices and powders are evenly distributed throughout the entire mixture. Store the prepared blend in a clean and completely dry airtight container.
What to do when you crave tea
Whenever you feel a craving for tea, take a cup of hot water. Add about 2 to 3 spoons of the prepared tea premix into it and stir well. You can increase or decrease the quantity depending on your personal taste preference and the size of your cup.
If you prefer a stronger and thicker tea, use a slightly higher amount of the premix. On the other hand, for a lighter brew, the quantity can be kept lower. This method eliminates the need to boil milk separately and go through the lengthy process of making traditional tea.
Important points to remember while making the premix
All ingredients must be completely dry while preparing the premix. Exposure to moisture can cause lumps to form in the powder and degrade its overall quality. Therefore, always store it in a dry, airtight container and never use a wet spoon to scoop it out.
Instead of preparing a very large quantity at once, making smaller batches for regular use is much better. Especially if homemade milk powder or similar ingredients are used, make sure to check the storage instructions given on the packaging before keeping it for a long duration. In this manner, a home-prepared tea premix proves highly convenient for individuals who crave tea multiple times a day and wish to save time.
