Ah, winter – that magical time of year when you can snuggle up with a hot cocoa bomb and your loved ones, even if it’s just over Zoom. But hold on to your mugs, folks, because there’s a new sheriff in town: tea bombs. That’s right, tea has officially taken over and it’s coming in hot (pun intended).
Not only are tea bombs gorgeous to look at, with their sugar-coated shells and edible glitter decorations, but they’re also bursting with flavor. As you drop them into your cup, they slowly dissolve, revealing a treasure trove of tea leaves, herbs, and flowers that will make your taste buds dance with joy.
Seriously, if you’re a tea lover, you’re going to be obsessed with tea bombs. They’re like little crystal balls of goodness, except instead of predicting the future, they’re predicting how awesome your next sip of tea is going to be. So go ahead, give in to the tea bomb craze – your taste buds will thank you.
In this blog, we have made this effortless for you. We also offer a curated selection of the top tea bombs you can buy online at Etsy.
For all you tea-lovers, you may also like Best Tea Infusers for Tea Aficionados.
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What is a Tea Bomb?
How to use a tea bomb?
Which fillings are the best for tea bombs?
- Edible flowers (dandelion, hibiscus, rose, honeysuckle, marigold etc)
- Edible confetti
- Edible foil
How to Make Tea Bombs?
You can definitely make your own tea bombs – here’s how.
Ingredients & Tools
- 1 1/2 cups Light Corn Syrup
- 3 cups White Sugar
- 1 cup Water
- Food coloring
- 2 Half-circle silicone mold
- Tea of your choice
- Gloves to protect your hand from hot sugar
- Food thermometer
Recipe
- Mix your corn syrup, white sugar, and water in a pan. Melt in a stove until it’s clear and bubbling, around 300 degrees.
- Mix in some food coloring
- Fill in the half-circle silicone mold with the sugar mixture and wait about 15 seconds. Sugar hardens quickly! Again, be really careful when working with hot sugar!
- Let cool for about 20-30 minutes
- Fill in the bomb with a teabag or loose-leaf teas inside. you can also add edible flowers etc.
- Heat up the rim of one of the half shells using the earlier pan/skillet, then quickly close both halves together
Recipe 2 – Using Isomalt crystals
Ingredients:
- Isomalt crystals
- Dried edible flowers
- Dry tea leaves or tea bags
Step 1: Put the crystals in a saucepan and keep it over medium flame. Gently stir to melt all the crystals. Shake the pan gently so that the crystals don’t stay in one place and end up burning
Step 2: Once melted, keep stirring the mixture to prevent any bubbles from forming. Once all the trapped bubbles also disappear a smooth liquid will be formed.
step 3: Carefully put a few tablespoons of this mixture into the silicone mold. Be very careful as this mixture will be very hot.
Step 4: Move the silicon mold around so that its sphere walls are all coated with the isomalt mixture
step 5: Leave it out to cool. this will take about 30 minutes. Once the spheres cool and harden, you should take them out of the silicone molds.
Step 6: Add the dried flowers and tea bag to the half-sphere. Take care to leave the teabag string out of the mold.
step 7: Prepare a heated skillet. Put one half-sphere with its edge on the skillet to slightly melt it. This will act to stick the two halves together. Place it gently on a half-sphere filled with tea and flowers. This will form a globe shape that we so desire!
How to store tea bombs?
You heard it right, tea bombs can absolutely be stored if handled correctly! They can be kept in an airtight container for 1-2 weeks. You should be careful not to squish them under other heavy boxes which may cause them to break. These make for unique gifts and are also really fun to serve guests with. You should always keep some around!
Best Ready-made Tea Bombs
For anyone who doesn’t have the time or energy to make these tea bombs, we have picked out the best ones available on the market that you can order and enjoy.
Personalized Tea Bombs by DayLightFlavor
These tea bombs by Daylight Flavor can be custom printed with any design and are available in gift sets or bulk orders, with a choice of 16 different tea flavors to choose from, including blueberries in yogurt, chocolate pu-erh, and splashes of champagne.
Bigelow Tea Chai Tea Latte Hot Chocolate Bombs Filled with Mini Marshmallows
The Chai Latte Hot Chocolate Bomb blends sweet and spicy, marrying chai tea with hot cocoa in a handcrafted treat made from the finest white and milk chocolate, spiced with warm, exotic flavors and topped with mini marshmallows. It’s easy to make—just drop a bomb into your mug, pour over warm milk, stir, and watch as the chocolate melts and marshmallows emerge. Perfect for gifting, these bombs are a delightful surprise for tea and chocolate lovers. Bigelow Tea, a leader in premium tea since 1945 and a Certified B Corporation, guarantees uncompromised quality in every bomb.
Tea Bombs from SweetBDBShop
SweetBDBShop offers a wide variety of creative and deliciously crafted drink bombs, including tea bombs, hot chocolate bombs, milk tea bombs, and cider bombs. They also have a selection of dipped Oreo cookies. The shop is known for its high-quality products, with an average review rating of 4.8 or higher, indicating strong customer satisfaction. Their products are handcrafted and feature a range of flavors and types, catering to diverse tastes and preferences. Additionally, the shop has a reputation for smooth shipping, speedy replies, and excellent customer service, making it a reliable and appealing destination for those looking for unique beverage options.
Melting Tea Jewels, Tea Bombs, Tea Lover Gift Set, Tea Gifts, Glass Teacup Gift Set from KristelKCreations
These tea bombs are created from a variety of loose leaf teas, dried flowers, and fruits, combined with food coloring, corn syrup, and pure cane sugar. The tea jewels are available in different flavors and packaging options, including a gift box or a full gift set with a heart-shaped teacup and teaspoon. The tea flavors include Tropical Sun Garnet, Youthful Rose Quartz, Peach Green Emerald, Chamomile Amethyst, and Earl Grey Jade. They are approximately 2 inches in diameter and can be purchased in various quantities. The full gift set includes a marble gift box with a ribbon, a glass double-walled heart-shaped tea mug, and a stainless steel gold leaf design teaspoon.
Also read: How To Make Boba At Home
Tips to make the perfect tea bombs
1.Do not forget the flowers
Flowers may seem like the type of thing which can be easily left out. That is not the case! Flowers are the ingredients that will add uniqueness to your tea bombs and give them that fancy touch. there are many edible flowers that you can add to your tea.
Flowers are not only eye-candy, but they are also responsible for adding some unique flavors and scents to your tea. For example, hibiscus gives a beautiful red tint to the tea with a delicious aroma and taste. Some other edible flowers are Dandelion, lavender, honeysuckle, purslane, and rose. These flowers all have delicious taste, aroma, and a plethora of health benefits.
2. Add sweetener
The shell of tea bombs is made of isomalt which is not too sweet. if you are someone who prefers their tea somewhat sweet, you may want to add sweeteners inside the tea bombs. This will ensure that you are not running to get sugar after making a delicious cup of tea.
3. Try out Different Kinds of Teas
You should spice it up and use different kinds of tea bags when making your tea bombs. A few varieties that work really well are chai tea, green tea, chamomile tea, and cinnamon tea. this will ensure that you do not get tired of drinking the same tea over and over again. Also, this is a handy trick for when you have guests over. After all, not everyone prefers the same kind of tea.
4. Vary the colors of isomalt
this is for pure decoration purposes. You may not like the translucent look of isomalt that makes it easy to see everything that is inside it. If that’s the case, pick up any color you like and your tea bombs will appear in a bright form. Add a few drops of food coloring to the isomalt mixture. We suggest using gel food coloring to avoid your mixture becoming liquidy and runny.
Now your tea bombs can be any color of the rainbow!
5. Use silicon molds
From all the different methods to form the spheres, the easiest and cleanest are silicon molds. They won’t have your hands be messy and will give you the perfect spheres which are the key factor of giving tea bombs their signature look
6. Don’t forget to use gloves
Isomalt spheres will be very hot to touch. they may even burn your skin. this is a step that requires extreme care. wear sugar gloves and be very cautious. If you are making tea bombs with kids, this is one step they shouldn’t do. do it for them!
7. Handle with care
Tea bombs are very fragile and will break upon impact. You don’t want your hard work to go down the drain. If you want to store these tea bombs, make sure to store them in a box that is not squished.
Also check out, All You Need to Know about Blue Ternate Tea
Pairing Tea Bombs with Foods
Let’s explore how different types of tea bombs can be complemented with specific food items to elevate the overall experience:
- Floral Tea Bombs: The delicate and aromatic nature of floral tea bombs pairs wonderfully with light pastries and finger sandwiches. Think lavender or chamomile tea bombs with cucumber sandwiches or French madeleines, creating a refined afternoon tea setting.
- Fruity Tea Bombs: The vibrant and sweet characteristics of fruity tea bombs make them a perfect match for fruit-based desserts or pastries. Imagine a berry tea bomb alongside a slice of lemon tart or raspberry scone, offering a harmonious blend of tart and sweet flavors.
- Spiced Tea Bombs: Rich, spiced tea bombs like those with cinnamon or cardamom notes pair excellently with spiced cakes, cookies, or even savory snacks. A chai tea bomb alongside a piece of carrot cake or gingerbread cookies creates a comforting and warming pairing, ideal for colder days.
- Herbal Tea Bombs: For a health-conscious pairing, herbal tea bombs can be matched with light, vegan snacks or fresh salads. A peppermint or lemon balm tea bomb alongside a quinoa salad or avocado toast offers a refreshing and wholesome experience.
Incorporating these pairings into your tea sessions not only enhances the flavors but also adds an element of culinary exploration, making each tea-drinking experience unique and memorable.
Frequently Asked Questions
What exactly are isomalt crystals?
Isomalt is a healthier sugar alternative. it is made up of beetroot. Tea bombs made from isomalt instead of corn syrup and sugar is healthier and spikes blood sugarless. This is great for anyone looking to control their weight or blood sugar.
How safe is Isomalt to consume?
Isomalt is extremely safe and edible. It is made from beetroots so it is edible and healthy.
Do tea bombs really work?
Yes, they absolutely do! The isomalt or corn syrup shell is quick to melt in hot water and will quickly reveal whatever is hidden inside your tea bomb.
How to store blooming tea bombs?
Tea bombs need to be stored at room temperature in an airtight container. They should be kept away from humidity and direct sunlight.
What are sugar gloves and why should I use them?
Sugar gloves are very heat-resistant gloves that will prevent your hands from burning from the intense heat of the isomalt crystals. You should definitely wear them if you don’t want to burn yourself!
Which mold should I be using for tea bombs?
We suggest using silicone molds because these are the easiest and most convenient to handle. When it comes to size, bigger may not always be better. I prefer using a smaller mold, about 2.5 inches in circumference. This is because bigger molds will result in a larger shell which could lead to an oversweetened tea when melted.
As someone who does not have a sweet tooth, I do not like that. This may not be such a problem if you use isomalt instead of corn syrup and sugar. Even though it is tricky to put all the ingredients in a smaller mold, I think it is worth it!
Should I use Isomalt or Sugar and corn starch syrup?
Although we have mentioned both recipes, we obviously favor using isomalt. Sugar is a harmless choice too but isomalt has a few pros over it. the only pro that sugar has is that it is probably lying in your pantry right now and isomalt isn’t!
The reason we prefer isomalt is that
- Isomalt has half the sugar content as normal sugar so it won’t make your tea too sweet. Moreover, it is great for people who are diabetic or just trying to cut back on sugar
- Isomalt is easier to melt than sugar without using much water. It is very hard to get the right consistency of sugar. You may add too much or too little water leading it to be a disaster. If it’s too runny or too hard, it just won’t give you the results you desired
- Isomalt is also far more stable and less prone to burning than sugar. Sugar may crystallize and burn, or turn into a caramel color. Nobody wants that to happen!
Conclusion:
If the hot choco bombs aren’t your thing in 2020, then maybe these ‘Tea Bombs’ will be in 2024. These were labor-intensive because it requires you to make shells using sugar or isomalt and you can possibly get some crazy burns if you’re not careful enough. With that being said, you should jump on the “Fun” bandwagon! They are totally worth the time and effort! You can click on the banner below to see more hand-curated selections.
Also check out, Best Plant-based Yogurts for a Healthy Lifestyle