How to Make Jelly Tea: With Black Tea and Strawberries
Looking for a delicious and refreshing beverage to enjoy on a hot summer day? Look no further than strawberry jelly tea! This tasty drink combines the sweetness strawberries with the chewy texture of jelly cubes, all mixed together in a refreshing black tea base. Not only is it a delicious treat, but it's also easy to make at home with just a few simple ingredients. In this article, we'll walk you through the steps to make your own strawberry jelly tea, so you can enjoy this refreshing drink anytime you want!
Jelly Tea: A Fun Bubble Tea Alternative with Strawberry Jelly, a Hint of Rose and Topped With Cream!
Try our easy and delicious recipe for homemade strawberry jelly tea, perfect for a refreshing and satisfying summer beverage.
What is Bubble Tea?
Bubble tea, also known as boba tea or pearl milk tea, is a popular Taiwanese drink that has become a sensation around the world. It is typically made with a base of tea, milk, and sweetener, mixed with small, chewy tapioca balls called pearls or boba.
Bubble tea recipes come in a variety of flavors and variations, including fruit flavors, matcha, and even chocolate. The drink is often served cold with ice, and the tapioca pearls are typically at the bottom of the drink, adding a fun and unique texture to the experience of drinking it. Bubble tea can be enjoyed with a straw that has a wider diameter to allow the pearls to pass through, or a spoon to scoop them up.
I had the inspiration for this strawberries and cream jelly tea from bubble tea. I wanted to create an iced milk tea made with sweet jelly to give that wonderful boba effect.
If you prefer to have this tea with boba rather than jelly, you can buy packaged tapioca pearls and cook them according to the packet instructions. Add the cooked tapioca pearls to the sweet milk tea and enjoy in the same way. You may need to add a little more sweetener or sugar to the tapioca pearls because they will not be as sweet as the jelly.
Jelly tea is a variation of bubble tea that uses a different type of chewy ingredient instead of tapioca pearls. Instead of pearls, jelly tea uses cubes of flavored jelly, usually made from a type of seaweed called agar agar.
The jelly cubes typically have a soft, bouncy texture similar to that of tapioca pearls. They come in a variety of flavors, such as lychee, mango, and strawberry, and can add a fun and refreshing twist to the traditional bubble tea.
Some people prefer jelly tea as a replacement to tapioca pearls because they find the texture of the jelly cubes to be more pleasant, while others still prefer the classic boba experience. Ultimately, it comes down to personal preference and trying out different variations to find what you like best.
What Tea Should I Use in Jelly Tea?
The type of black tea used in bubble tea or jelly tea can vary depending on personal preference and the desired flavor profile. However, some popular types of black tea that are often used in bubble tea or jelly tea include:
Assam tea: This is a strong and robust tea that is often used in milk tea because it can hold up to the added milk and sweetener without losing its flavor.
Ceylon tea: This is a medium-bodied tea with a slightly fruity flavor that can add a pleasant sweetness to the drink.
Darjeeling tea: Darjeeling tea is a lighter-bodied tea with a slightly floral and nutty flavor that can add a delicate and complex flavor to the drink.
Earl Grey tea: This is a black tea that is flavored with bergamot oil, giving it a distinct citrusy and floral flavor that can add a unique twist to the drink.
Ultimately, the best type of black tea to use in bubble tea or jelly tea will depend on personal taste and the desired flavor profile of the drink. It's always a good idea to experiment with different types of tea to find the one that you like best.
Is Jelly Tea Vegan or Vegetarian?
Jelly tea can be both vegan and vegetarian, depending on the specific ingredients used to make the jelly cubes. The main ingredient in vegetarian jelly cubes is usually agar agar, which is a type of seaweed-derived gelatin substitute that is often used as a vegan alternative to traditional animal-based gelatin.
However, some variations of jelly tea or bubble tea may include other ingredients that are not vegan or vegetarian-friendly, such as honey or milk. It's important to check the ingredients list or ask the vendor before ordering to ensure that the jelly tea you are consuming is vegan or vegetarian, if that is important to you.
A great dairy free, vegan friendly option is to make your own jelly tea at home so that you know exactly what goes in.
Can I use Packaged Jelly for a Speedy Jelly Tea Recipe?
There are several different jelly options available for making jelly tea. Here are some common options, along with the time it takes to make each:
Gelatin jelly: This type of jelly is made with gelatin, which is a protein derived from animal collagen. To make gelatin jelly, you will need to dissolve the gelatin in hot water, add sugar and flavoring, and then pour the mixture into a mold to set. The jelly can take several hours to set completely, depending on the size and shape of the mold.
Agar agar jelly: This type of jelly is made with agar agar, which is a type of seaweed-derived gelatin substitute. To make agar agar jelly, you will need to dissolve the agar agar in hot water, add sugar and flavoring, and then pour the mixture into a mold to set. Agar agar jelly sets much more quickly than gelatin jelly, usually within 30-60 minutes.
Ready-made jelly: You can also use pre-made jelly, which is available in many flavors and can be found in most grocery stores. Simply prepare the jelly according to the instructions on the package, and then cut it into small cubes to add to your jelly tea.
The specific time it takes to make jelly tea will depend on which type of jelly you choose to use. However, once you have your jelly cubes prepared, making jelly tea is relatively quick and easy. Simply brew your black tea, add milk and sweetener as desired, and then add the jelly cubes to the bottom of the cup. Serve with a wide straw or a spoon to enjoy the chewy texture of the jelly cubes as you sip your tea.
Can I Make this Jelly Tea Dairy Free?
To make dairy-free jelly milk tea or bubble tea, you can use non-dairy milk and cream options as substitutes. Here are some common dairy-free options:
Non-dairy milk: There are many different types of non-dairy milk available, such as almond milk, coconut milk, soy milk, oat milk, and rice milk. These milks can be used as a substitute for regular milk in the recipe. Choose the one that you prefer the taste of, or that works best with the flavors of your tea.
Coconut cream: Coconut cream can be used as a substitute for heavy cream or half-and-half. It has a rich, creamy texture that is similar to dairy cream, but without the lactose. You can use coconut cream in the same amount as the dairy cream in the recipe. Try making dairy free coconut whipped cream.
Nut-based cream: There are also non-dairy creamers available made from nuts, such as almond cream or cashew cream. These can be used as a substitute for dairy cream in the recipe.
To make dairy-free jelly milk tea or bubble tea, simply substitute the dairy milk and cream in the recipe with one of the non-dairy options above. You can also adjust the amount of sweetener used to suit your taste.
How to Make Strawberries and Cream Jelly Tea at Home
Making jelly tea from scratch is really easy to do, and feel free to buy packaged strawberry jelly to make the process even easier. Firstly, make the jelly and allow it to set in the fridge before cutting the jelly into bite sized pieces. Next make the milk tea by infusing the tea directly in milk, cream and sweetener. Strain your tea leaves or tea bags and allow to cool. Make your jelly tea by firstly adding jelly to your cup or glass and top with your sweet milk tea. For extra indulgence, add whipped cream and chopped strawberries.
INGREDIENTS (Serves 2)
For the Strawberry Jelly
1 Cup of Chopped Strawberries
1/2 Cup of Water
1/4 Cup of Sugar or Honey
2 Teaspoons of Unflavoured Grass Fed Gelatin
For the Milk Tea
3 Heaped Teaspoons of Black Tea
2 Cups (16fl oz) of Almond Milk (or Milk of Choice)
4 Tablespoons of Coconut Cream (or Heavy Cream)
1/4 Teaspoon of Rose Water
2 Tablespoons of Sugar or Honey to Taste - Optional
Whipped Cream - Optional
METHOD
To make the jelly: firstly, line a small tin with parchment paper.
In a small saucepan add the strawberries, sugar/honey and water. Bring to a boil and crush the strawberries with a wooden spoon.
Once the strawberries look sauce-like (roughly 10 minutes) take off the heat and strain out the seeds using a mesh strainer or sieve.
Add the gelatin powder and keep stirring until it has dissolved into the liquid. Next, pour into your lined tin and place in the fridge until set. This should take around 1 hour.
Once the gelatin has set, cut into cubes ready for your iced jelly tea.
To make the creamy rose tea: In a small saucepan, add the milk, sugar/honey and cream, and bring to a boil. Once at boiling point, remove from the heat and add the loose leaf tea and a few drops of rosewater. Allow to steep for 5-10 minutes so that the black tea goodness can infuse into the milk.
Once steeped, strain out the leaves. Either allow to cool completely, or add a few ice cubes to help speed up the process.
Add the cubed jelly to your glass and pour in the creamy steeped tea.
Add optional whipped cream and enjoy with a spoon or large straw.
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