Tea Blog

Roses are red, Tea cups are blue, Zhi Tea loves organic tea, and we want you to, too!

With over 100 ultra premium artisan teas to choose from, we’re sure as Cupid’s arrow that there is a tea out there for you and everyone you know.

Looking for a life long love affair? Zhi’s pure, unadulterated artisans are designed for every day enjoyment. Looking to flirt with new flavors? Zhi’s hand blended original signatures are made in small batches and range from fruity to floral.

Don’t know what tea to give? Draw inspiration from Valentine’s trifecta: strawberries, roses, and chocolate.

Zhi’s Vanilla Rose has a sweet malty base that is complimented by creamy vanilla and floral roses. This black tea is great on it’s own as it’s inherently silky and sweet, but go ahead and indulge: a splash of almond milk makes it truly decadent. The same can be said of our sexy Cacao Chai. Spicy, complex, with notes of chocolate and espresso, this blend gives one all the bliss and antioxidants of chocolate, but without any calories or sugar!  Rose teas, of course, are truly romantic. If you’re looking for caffeine free teas for your crush, Zhi’s Saigon Rose is caffeine free and our White Rose only has trace amounts.

This Valentine’s Day, fall in love with the leaf.  Truly. Madly. Steeply.

If you’ve resolved to spend more time in your kitchen perfecting your Top Chef skills, we commend you! Consider the easy yet elegant chocolate cookie recipe below and brace yourself for compliments (if you decide to share.)

Of course, no dessert course would be complete without the proper tea. To complement the chocolate qualities of these dark and dense cookies, Zhi suggests a malty, smooth black tea like our Austin Breakfast. Prefer something caffeine-free? The nutty notes of our Honeybush pair well with the cookies’ raw sugar highlights. Enjoy!

Want more recipe suggestions and tea pairings? Find Zhi on Pinterest!

Chocolate Cookies by Lemons & Anchovies*

Ingredients

¼ cup unsweetened cocoa powder

1 teaspoon instant espresso powder

3 tablespoons boiling water

½ cup (1 stick) unsalted butter at room temperature

¼ cup granulated sugar

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

½ teaspoon kosher salt

1 large egg

2 cups all-purpose flour

1 egg yolk

1 teaspoon water

Turbinado sugar for sprinkling

Instructions

Dissolve the cocoa powder and espresso powder in the boiling water in a small bowl.

Using a hand mixer (original recipe calls for using a stand mixer with paddle attachment but the hand mixer worked, too), beat the butter and sugar in a large bowl on medium speed until the mixture is creamy. Mix in the vanilla and salt then, reducing the mixer’s speed, mix in the egg followed by the cocoa mixture. Add the flour in small batches and continue to mix until a smooth dough forms. Since I used a hand mixer here, I used my hands to press the dough together.

Turn the dough out on a piece of plastic wrap and pat into a square. Wrap the dough and refrigerate it for about 30 minutes.

Preheat your oven to 325°F. Divide the chilled dough into 24 pieces and form into balls. Using a flat-bottomed glass, press each ball into a disk and set on a parchment-lined baking sheet (you may need two baking sheets).

Combine the egg yolk and water and brush the tops of the disks. Sprinkle with the turbinado sugar and bake in the oven for 20-25 minutes. The original recipe called for baking these for 35 minutes but I think that’s too long. Watch the cookies at the 20 minute mark. If they’re dry, they’re done.

Allow the cookies to cool on a wire rack before serving. May be stored in an airtight container for up to a week.

*Reprinted with permission