Learn how to make tea powder at home with this simple recipe. Transform your favourite loose leaf tea into a fine powder suitable for baking.
What is tea powder?
Crushed and finely milled loose leaf tea which is ground into a powder, usually by stone and pressure.
It is also known as microground tea or stone-rolled tea.
What's the difference between instant tea and tea powder?
Instant tea a concentrated tea that is dried into a powder by freeze-drying, vacuum-drying, or spray-drying.
Why you'll love this recipe
This recipe yields a pure ground tea powder similar to matcha or hojicha, that is suitable for baking or drinks.
It's relatively easy and economical to make at home.
Although the ground tea will not be as finely milled as a commercial pressure stone-milled or microground tea powder, it will suffice for home use.
You can use any loose leaf tea that you like, such as oolong, jasmine, Earl Grey, etc.
Equipment you'll need
My method utilizes 2 pieces of equipment:
- coffee grinder: grinding the tea leaves first with a coffee grinder helps with breaking down the leaves into smaller pieces; I used an electric burr grinder
- mortar and pestle: to crush the ground tea leaves into a finer powder
Ingredients you'll need
- loose leaf tea of your choice: you can use any green or black tea; try oolong, jasmine (as pictured here), genmaicha, or Earl Grey
How to make it
Add the loose leaf tea to the coffee grinder.
Blitz intermittently until the tea leaves turn into a powder.
Transfer the tea into a mortar and pestle and grind, rubbing the tea powder with the pestle against the mortar, until the tea becomes a fine powder, similar to matcha powder..
How to store
Store the powder in an airtight container in a dark location, away from direct sunlight.
Best used within 1 month.
How to use
Use the ground tea (as you would matcha powder or hojicha) in brewed tea drinks, or to give extra flavouring in baking, such as in Earl Grey Bergamot Loaf.
Tea powder is very concentrated.
You can use the powder in drinks, similar to making a matcha latte or hojicha latte.
To make tea using tea powder:
Add about ½ teaspoon ground tea to a jar or matcha bowl.
Pour in boiling water that has been slightly cooled and whisk until frothy with an electric whisk/frother or tea whisk (chasen).
Strain the tea into a glass.
Note: If using for drinks, you will still need to strain the tea to prevent additional graininess.
Enjoy as is, or add ice cubes, sweetener and milk of your choice.
Note: For a standard drink, use anywhere form ½ - 1 teaspoon and adjust according to your taste.
Other recipes you may like
Be sure to check out these recipes:
Yuenyueng (Hong Kong Coffee Tea Drink)
Let me know if you try out this recipe -- tag me on Instagram @siftandsimmer or leave me a comment/rating below!
How To Make Tea Powder
Equipment
- coffee grinder
- mortar and pestle
For accuracy and precision in baking recipes, use weight (metric) measurements when available.
Ingredients
- ¼ C loose leaf tea of your choice
Instructions
- Add the loose leaf tea to the coffee grinder.
- Blitz intermittently until the tea leaves turn into a powder.
- Transfer the tea into a mortar and pestle and grind, rubbing the tea powder with the pestle against the mortar, until the tea becomes a fine powder.
- Store the tea powder in an airtight container in a dark location away from direct sunlight for up to 1 month.
Nutrition
The nutritional information provided should be considered as approximate and is not guaranteed. Please use your best judgment to ensure food is safely prepared and/or a good fit for your diet.
David @ Spiced
What a fun idea! I've seen tea powder in the stores (for VERY expensive prices) but I never realized you could just make it at home. Great idea for baking!!
Heidi | The Frugal Girls
Wow... I had no idea it was this easy to make Tea Powder! What a great tip... and so budget friendly, too!