Pandan: follow the fragrance

Pandan brings an inviting aroma to a cup. It also pairs beautifully with lemongrass: the leaves and citrus-scented stalks make a lovely starting point for exploring Thai herbal drinks. For a full recipe, see Pailin Chongchitnant’s lemongrass pandan tea demonstration.

Lemongrass: bright and easy to dress up

Choose lemongrass when a citrusy aroma appeals. Enjoy it plain first, then try a little lime in a cooled glass. If you are preparing fresh stalks, use a recipe that explains trimming and simmering; a ready-to-brew blend is a convenient alternative.

Bael: something a little different

Often prepared from dried fruit slices, bael adds another style of infusion to explore. Brew it using the directions for your dried fruit or blend, and taste before sweetening. Compare a warm cup with a chilled one to see which you prefer.

Butterfly pea: bring colour to the table

This is the one to serve in a clear glass. A squeeze of lemon changes a blue butterfly pea drink towards purple—a small flourish that makes an iced tea especially fun to share. Our ChaTraMue Jasmine Butterfly Pea Tea combines butterfly pea, jasmine and green tea, as described by the maker. Because the blend includes green tea, it contains caffeine.

Ginger: for a little spice

Ginger gives your drink a distinctive spicy character. Try it warm with a small spoonful of honey, or cool your prepared drink and serve with ice and citrus. Instant mixes may already be sweetened, so take a sip before adding more.

Choose the kind of tea break you want

Think about what you reach for already. If you like a sharp, fresh-tasting drink with lunch, lemongrass is an easy direction to explore. If you enjoy spice in food, ginger may be the more interesting first purchase. Butterfly pea is especially appealing when you want to make an iced drink for the table.

Pandan suits someone who enjoys fragrance, while bael offers a different ingredient and preparation to discover. You can start with one ingredient rather than buying a collection of five unfamiliar packs.

If you want a caffeine-free evening drink, choose a pure herbal infusion rather than relying on the picture on the packet. Our jasmine butterfly pea blend includes green tea, for example, while a plain pandan, lemongrass or ginger infusion need not contain tea leaves. The full ingredient list will tell you which style you have found.

Make a small tasting comparison at home

Prepare one ordinary culinary infusion using its recipe or pack directions and divide it between two small cups. Leave one plain and add a little citrus or sweetener to the other. Let both reach a comfortable drinking temperature. Notice the aroma first, then compare the first sip and the flavour left afterwards. This gives you a useful answer to a simple question: does the addition improve the drink for you?

Keep the comparison small. Adding milk, citrus and several sweeteners at once makes it hard to know which change worked. A quick note on your phone—“lemongrass, small mug, squeeze of lime”—is enough to help you make the same drink again.

Bring the flavour into an iced serving

Ice changes the drink as it melts, so a cup that tastes balanced warm may seem lighter over a full glass of cubes. Brew within the directions for the product, let it cool and try a modest amount of ice first. Add more if you prefer it colder. For butterfly pea, leave room for citrus and add it slowly so you can enjoy the colour change.

When serving friends, keep the additions separate. A small dish of lemon wedges and a spoon for sweetener let everyone finish their own glass. Tell them which tea you have made, particularly if it is a mixed blend. You can offer a colourful drink without making everybody choose the same level of sweetness.

Buy the form you actually want to prepare

Dried slices, loose leaves, tea bags and instant powders need different equipment and effort. A bag suits a quick cup with little clearing up. Loose ingredients suit a pot and strainer. An instant mix may already contain sugar, so compare its ingredient list with an unsweetened infusion before deciding.

For a first purchase, a manageable pack is often more useful than a large quantity of a flavour you have never tried. Start with your preferred preparation, then explore a second drink once you know what you enjoy.

Make one small discovery

Choose one drink that catches your interest. Try it plain, make one addition, and keep the version you enjoy. A favourite cup and a few good ingredients are plenty to begin with.