Make Your Own Tea K-Cups! A Tea For Every Occasion
Keurig machines may have been designed for brewing coffee, but they do an excellent job of making tea, too. Rather than buying numerous tea k-cups (which can get pretty expensive and generate a lot of waste), consider making your own tea k-cups using a refillable k-cup and a range of ingredients you can buy at most grocery stores. You can make a tea for every occasion.
Chamomile Orange Tea: Promotes relaxation and sleep, and soothes achy muscles.
Chamomile tea has a lovely, mild appeal. This k-cup recipe combines it with orange peel, which adds a hint of tart citrus flavor, and sugar for a touch of sweetness. This is the perfect tea to sip before bedtime or when your nerves are starting to get the best of you.
Place the following ingredients in a refillable k-cup:
- 2 teaspoons loose-leaf chamomile tea
- 1/2 teaspoon sugar
- 1/4 teaspoon dried orange peel (sold in the spice aisle of most grocery stores)
Use the medium-cup setting on your Keurig, if your machine has multiple settings. Let the tea cool slightly, sip, and enjoy.
Ginger "Tea": Soothes arthritis pain, headaches, menstrual cramps, and other soreness.
There's no actual tea in this herbal drink, but it's a powerful remedy when you're suffering from any sort of ache or pain. Ginger has a number of well established healing properties. It helps relieve inflammation and its warming effect improves circulation, which can further soothe sore tissues.
Place the following ingredients in a refillable k-cup:
- 2 teaspoons fresh ginger, minced finely
- 2 pinches of ground cinnamon
Place 1 - 2 teaspoons of honey in a mug, depending on taste. Run your Keurig into the cup, using the medium cup size if possible. Stir, and sip away.
Assam and Lime Tea: Increases energy levels with a boost of caffeine.
Black tea contains more caffeine than other types of tea, and Assam is a delicious variety to try. If you cannot find this variety at a specialty tea store, try substituting Rooibos or Keemun -- both are similarly potent black teas. The addition of lime peel gives this tea recipe a refreshing brightness that will help wake you up in the morning or when that afternoon lag sets in.
Place the following ingredients in a refillable k-cup:
- 2 teaspoons loose-leaf Assam black tea
- 1/4 teaspoon dried lime peel (sold in the spice aisle of most grocery stores)
- 1 pinch ground nutmeg
Place 1 - 2 teaspoons of honey into a mug, depending on taste. Run the Keurig into the mug, using the large cup setting, if possible. Enjoy!
Fruity, Iced Green Tea: Cools, refreshes and re-hydrates on a hot day.
On a hot summer day, this iced green tea, laden with fruit, is perfect for sipping by the pool or on the patio. Green tea also contains some caffeine, so you'll get a moderate energy boost from this drink.
Place the following ingredients in a refillable k-cup:
- 4 teaspoons loose-leaf green tea of your choice (Snowy Mountain Jian and Long Jing are both great choices)
- 1 pinch ground ginger
- 1 pinch dried orange peel
Place the following ingredients in a tall glass:
- 6 - 8 raspberries
- 6 - 8 blueberries
- 2 slices of a fresh peach
Use the back of a spoon to smash the fruit in the bottom of the glass. Then, fill the glass with ice.
Dispense the green tea into a mug, using the small cup setting, if possible. Sweeten the tea with a spoonful of sugar if you prefer. Then, pour the green tea over the ice-filled glass. Stir to distribute the fruit and cool the tea, and then enjoy.
If you need to buy new k-cups, want to try some new flavors, or don't always have the energy to create your own teas, check out a company like 11th Street Coffee.