Flavor Your Tea with Homemade Specialty Sugars

As a Tea Enthusiast, I am always looking for new ways to add a gourmet touch to my tea parties, and since I’ve been in an herbal culinary mood lately I’ve concocted five flavored and scented sugar recipes that will tempt any palate. When placed in decorative containers or bags, these homemade specialty sugars make great bridal or baby shower favors or gifts for family members and friends.

Rose Petal Sugar

Rose petals that are grown without pesticides and chemical plant foods are edible treats that make the best scented sugar. While they can be used in baking and as a garnish for salads, the best way to use them is to sweeten tea. Traditionally roses have been used in skin care, but studies have shown that they are also good for the digestion. Use this recipe to make a flavorful and scented batch of rose petal sugar.

Vanilla Bean Sugar

Vanilla bean sugar is one of my favorites because of its versatility. It can be used in any recipe that requires a combination of vanilla flavoring and sugar. I prefer premium Bourbon vanilla beans because of their strong aroma, oily skin and large quantity of seeds. A side benefit of this recipe is that you can use the same beans multiple for a continuous supply of vanilla bean sugar.

Lavender Sugar

Lavender sugar  is truly a gourmet treat and one of the ways you can make your next Afternoon Tea event a hit. You can either purchase ready-made lavender sugar (which can be somewhat expensive), or make your own at a fraction of the cost (you’ll get three to four times as much sugar for the price of the ingredients). This recipe makes enough lavender sugar to use in baking cakes, cookies or even in homemade lavender ice-cream. If you like the smell of lavender and are looking for an herbal alternative to plain and ordinary sugar, experiment with this recipe.

Citrus Sugars

Add the gourmet touch of citrus sugars to your drinks, baked goodies, sauces and salads. They are easy to make and provide a savory flavor to your meals and desserts. Citrus sugars can be made from lemons, oranges, limes, grapefruits or other citrus fruits you enjoy eating.

Mint Sugar

Fresh mint, the chief ingredient in mint sugar is easy to grow–even if you lack a green thumb (like I do). Garden variety spearmint can grow anywhere there is fertile soil. You can even use a window box or pot to plant it. But, better still, you can usually find it in the herb or produce section of your supermarket. Fresh mint sugar is easy to make and is especially delicious sprinkled over fruit and tossed with vegetable salads. Try this recipe one hour before serving time to add a distinctive taste to your hot or iced tea.