10+ Tea Recipes to Cozy Up Your Day with Flavorful Brews

Tea’s one of those simple pleasures that just feels right, no matter the season. You can serve it hot or cold, in so many flavors and styles.

Whether you’re after something calming or need a little pick-me-up, tea recipes let you play with flavors and find your favorites. There’s a whole world of possibilities out there, and honestly, it’s kind of fun to experiment.

Making tea at home is easier than most people think. You just need a few ingredients and some curiosity. Try different recipes and tweak flavors to fit your mood—sometimes that’s half the fun.

This guide brings you a bunch of teas, from the classics to some wildcards. Ready to dive in?

1) Masala Chai Tea

Masala Chai is a spiced tea from India that feels like a hug in a mug. You brew black tea with ginger, cinnamon, and cloves.

Usually, people add milk and a bit of sugar to round out the flavors. Simmering everything together really brings out the aroma.

Add the milk, let it cook for a few extra minutes, and then strain it. You’ll get a smooth, cozy drink.

Feel free to play with the spices and sweetness. It’s hard to go wrong here.

Ingredients:

• 1½ cups water
• 1 cup milk (or dairy-free)
• 2½ to 3 teaspoons black tea leaves
• 1-inch piece fresh ginger, sliced
• 2-3 cloves
• 1 small cinnamon stick
• 2-3 crushed green cardamom pods
• Sugar or sweetener to taste

Cooking Instructions:

1. Boil water with ginger, cloves, cinnamon, and cardamom for 5 minutes.
2. Add black tea leaves and boil for 2 minutes.
3. Pour in milk and sugar, simmer for 3-5 minutes.
4. Strain into cups and serve hot.

More details here: Masala Chai recipe.

2) Matcha Latte

A matcha latte is a creamy, green pick-me-up with a little earthy kick. Start by whisking matcha powder with hot (but not boiling) water—about 176°F if you’re the precise type.

Once it’s smooth and frothy, pour in your favorite warm milk. Almond, coconut, oat, or classic dairy all work.

Add a little honey or maple syrup if you want it sweet. You can drink it hot or pour it over ice for a cool version.

Ingredients

• 1 to 2 teaspoons matcha powder
• 1/4 cup hot water (176°F / 80°C)
• 1/4 cup warm milk or milk alternative
• Sweetener (optional)

Cooking Instructions

1. Sift the matcha powder into a bowl.
2. Add hot water and whisk until smooth and frothy.
3. Warm the milk.
4. Pour the matcha into your cup and add the milk.
5. Stir and sweeten if you like.

3) Thai Iced Tea

Thai iced tea is sweet, creamy, and has a gentle spice that makes it stand out. You brew strong tea with spices like cardamom, star anise, and cloves.

Boil water, steep the tea with spices and sugar, then strain and chill it. When it’s nice and cold, pour over ice and top with sweetened condensed or evaporated milk.

This one’s a treat on hot days, but honestly, it works year-round.

Ingredients

• Water
• Thai tea mix or black tea bags
• Sugar
• Star anise
• Cardamom pod
• Cloves
• Sweetened condensed milk or evaporated milk
• Ice

Cooking Instructions

1. Boil 4 cups (1 liter) of water at 212°F (100°C).
2. Add 3-4 tea bags, star anise, cardamom pod, and cloves.
3. Stir in 1 cup sugar and boil for 3 minutes.
4. Strain and chill the tea.
5. Fill a glass with ice, pour in 1 cup tea.
6. Top with 2 tablespoons sweetened condensed or evaporated milk.
7. Stir and sip.

More tips: how to make Thai iced tea like in Thailand.

4) Hong Kong Iced Tea

Hong Kong iced tea is all about strong black or oolong tea, fresh lemon, and lots of ice. It’s not too sweet, just super refreshing.

Brew your tea strong—steep black or oolong tea bags in hot water for 5 to 10 minutes. Let it cool before you add lemon.

Fill a glass with ice and lemon slices, then pour in the tea. Stir in sugar or brown sugar if you want a little sweetness.

Ingredients

• 7-10 black or oolong tea bags
• 4 1/4 cups boiling water
• 2 lemons
• 4 tbsp sugar (adjust to taste)
• Ice cubes

Cooking Instructions

1. Boil 4 1/4 cups (1 liter) of water.
2. Steep tea bags for 5-10 minutes.
3. Remove tea bags and cool the tea.
4. Slice lemons and fill a glass with ice.
5. Pour in the tea and add lemons.
6. Stir in sugar to taste.

5) Lemon & Ginger Tea

Lemon and ginger tea is a go-to for chilly mornings or when you need a little zing. It’s got a spicy kick from the ginger and a bright, citrusy punch from the lemon.

Just steep fresh ginger slices and lemon in hot water. Honey smooths it out and adds a touch of sweetness.

You can serve it hot or cold, depending on your mood. Adjust the ginger and lemon to get your perfect balance.

Ingredients

• 4 cups water
• 2-3 inch piece of fresh ginger
• ½ lemon, sliced
• 1-2 tablespoons honey

Cooking Instructions

1. Boil 4 cups of water.
2. Remove from heat and add ginger and lemon.
3. Steep for about 20 minutes.
4. Strain into a cup.
5. Stir in honey.
6. Enjoy warm or cold.

More here: lemon ginger tea recipe.

6) Honey and Lemon Tea

Honey and lemon tea is as easy as it gets. It’s light, soothing, and you can whip it up in a minute.

Put honey and lemon juice in a cup. Pour in hot water and stir until the honey melts.

Add more honey for sweetness or more lemon for tang. Throw in a lemon slice if you’re feeling fancy.

Ingredients

• 1 tablespoon lemon juice
• 2 tablespoons honey
• 1/2 cup or more hot water (about 140°F or 60°C)

Cooking Instructions

1. Boil water and let it cool a bit (about 140°F).
2. Add lemon juice and honey to a cup.
3. Pour in hot water.
4. Stir until the honey dissolves.
5. Toss in a lemon slice if you want.

More details: Honey and Lemon Tea Recipe.

7) Pumpkin Chai Latte

Here’s a cozy drink that brings together chai tea and pumpkin. Perfect for crisp fall days or anytime you want a little comfort.

Use your favorite milk—almond, oat, or regular. Heat it gently to keep things creamy.

Mix in pumpkin puree, pumpkin pie spice, and maple syrup or brown sugar. Froth the milk or top with whipped cream if you want to go all out.

Ingredients

• 1 chai tea bag
• ½ cup milk (almond, oat, or regular)
• 2 tablespoons pumpkin puree
• 1 teaspoon pumpkin pie spice
• 1 tablespoon maple syrup or brown sugar

Cooking Instructions

1. Boil ½ cup water, steep chai tea bag for 5 minutes.
2. Heat milk in a saucepan to about 150°F.
3. Stir in pumpkin puree, spice, and maple syrup.
4. Mix the hot chai tea with pumpkin milk.
5. Froth or add whipped cream if you like.

Check out this Pumpkin Chai Latte Recipe.

8) Pineapple Iced Tea

Pineapple iced tea is a fun, fruity twist on regular iced tea. The pineapple adds a sweet, tropical flavor that just works.

Brew a batch of tea, let it cool, then mix in pineapple juice and a little sugar. Pour it over ice for a super refreshing drink.

Want it tangier? Add a splash of lemon juice. Adjust the sweetness to your taste.

Ingredients

• 4 cups water
• 7 tea bags (green or black)
• 1 cup unsweetened pineapple juice
• 2 tablespoons sugar
• Optional: 1/3 cup lemon juice

Cooking Instructions

1. Boil 4 cups water.
2. Add tea bags and steep for 5 minutes.
3. Remove tea bags, stir in sugar.
4. Let it cool.
5. Add pineapple juice (and lemon juice if you want).
6. Serve over ice.

More info: pineapple iced tea recipe.

9) Strawberry Hibiscus Tea

Strawberry hibiscus tea is one of those drinks that just screams summer. It brings together the tartness of hibiscus and the sweetness of strawberries, and honestly, it’s hard to go wrong.

You just brew up some dried hibiscus flowers in water. After that, toss in fresh or even frozen strawberries—whatever you have on hand.

A lot of folks like to add a bit of honey or lemon juice for extra flavor. Sometimes I throw in a handful of mint leaves if I want it a little more refreshing.

This tea is super simple. Pour it over ice and you get this beautiful, bright red drink that’s both sweet and tangy.

Ingredients

• 8 cups water
• 1½ tablespoons dried hibiscus flowers
• 1 pound fresh strawberries, hulled
• 2 tablespoons honey
• ¼ cup lemon juice
• Ice

Cooking Instructions

1. Boil the water to 212°F (100°C).
2. Let the dried hibiscus flowers steep in the hot water for about 10 minutes.
3. Strain out the flowers and set the tea aside to cool.
4. Blend or mash the strawberries, then mix them into the tea.
5. Stir in honey and lemon juice.
6. Serve it over ice.

10) Chamomile Tea with Soy Milk and Honey

Chamomile tea with soy milk and honey feels like a warm hug in a mug. The mellow chamomile pairs nicely with the creaminess of soy milk.

Honey gives it just enough sweetness. Not too much, but enough to make you want another sip.

To make it, gently heat up your soy milk—don’t let it boil, just get it warm (about 150°F or 65°C). Whisk in the honey until it melts right in.

Drop in your chamomile tea bag, or a couple teaspoons of dried chamomile flowers, and let it steep for a few minutes. The flavors blend together quickly.

You can always adjust the honey if you want it more or less sweet. I usually eyeball it, honestly.

Ingredients

• 1 cup soy milk
• 1 chamomile tea bag (or 2 teaspoons dried chamomile flowers)
• 1 tablespoon honey

Cooking Instructions

1. Pour soy milk into a saucepan and heat it up to around 150°F (65°C).

2. Take the pan off the heat. Whisk in the honey until it melts away.

3. Toss in the chamomile tea bag and let it steep for 3 to 5 minutes.

4. Pull out the tea bag. Give it a gentle stir, and it’s ready to drink.