Your Oatmeal Requires a Tea Bag

published Oct 24, 2016
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Mornings are about efficiency. How can you quickly get out the door while still managing a healthy breakfast and a caffeine kick? Here’s your answer: Cook your oatmeal in tea. You’re not only getting a buzz from your breakfast bowl, but it’s also creamy, spicy, and delicious!

(Image credit: Brie Passano)

How to Infuse Your Oatmeal with Tea

The concept is simple. While you usually cook your oats in a simmering pot of water, cook them in a simmering pot of tea instead. All that means is once your pot of water comes to a boil, before you add your oats, steep a few of your favorite tea bags in the water. Remove the bags, add your oats, and cook as usual. You can even use this method with overnight oats, adding the oats to the hot tea and simply letting the mixture sit until the morning. Choose any tea you love and give this method a try. Here are a few of our favorites.

  • Masala chai: We love how well chai works for this method, as it has all those warm spices that you want in a classic bowl of oats.
  • English breakfast: This will give your oatmeal a deep tannic flavor. Pour in some milk and sugar and treat it like a classic builder’s cup of sweet milky tea.
  • Earl grey: Bring a citrusy element to oatmeal with this classic tea. Add some almond milk and a dash of honey to keep it light.
  • Green tea: Yes! Even green tea is fair game. Don’t steep the tea too long or it will become bitter. Honey makes a nice addition here as well.
  • Herbal tea: Try the earthy vanilla-scented notes of rooibos or a more delicate chamomile tea as an option. You won’t get the caffeine kick, but the subtle flavor is still tasty.