Blueberry Tea

By
Colleen Graham
Photo of Colleen Graham
Colleen Graham
Freelance writer and cocktail book author Colleen Graham is a seasoned mixologist who loves sharing her knowledge of spirits and passion for preparing drinks.
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Updated on 07/17/23
Tested by Joan Velush
Prep: 5 mins
Cook: 0 mins
Brewing and Cooling Time:: 15 mins
Total: 20 mins
Serving: 1 serving
Yield: 1 cocktail

The blueberry tea cocktail is both deceptive and surprising. That's because there are no blueberries nor blueberry-flavored ingredients included. Instead, the taste of this warm drink is surprisingly reminiscent of the sweet berries.

The recipe is actually quite simple and it's little more than spiked tea served in a fancy glass. And yet, that does not discount the wonder of this hot cocktail. The steaming combination of Grand Marnier, amaretto, and black tea is fascinating and an absolute delight to the senses.

By using a brandy snifter rather than a teacup or coffee mug, the fragrance is trapped inside. The glass is further accented with an orange wheel that floats atop the tea. In essence, it's a drink that gives as much to your nose as it does to your mouth.

Blueberry Tea Cocktail Recipe

 The Spruce

“Blueberry Tea is a warm cocktail made with freshly brewed orange pekoe tea, orange liqueur, and amaretto liqueur. Somehow, the combination of those three ingredients creates a delicious warm cocktail that definitely tastes like blueberry! This would be a perfect drink for a chilly evening." —Joan Velush

Blueberry Tea Cocktail/Tester Image
A Note From Our Recipe Tester

Ingredients

Steps to Make It

  1. Gather the ingredients.

    Blueberry Tea Cocktail Recipe
     The Spruce

  2. Preheat a brandy snifter by filling the glass with warm water while brewing your tea. Dump it out right before making the drink.

    Blueberry Tea Cocktail Recipe
     The Spruce

  3. Pour the orange liqueur and amaretto into the warm brandy snifter.

    Blueberry Tea Cocktail Recipe
     The Spruce

  4. Fill the snifter two-thirds of the way to the top with warm orange pekoe tea.

    Blueberry Tea Cocktail Recipe
     The Spruce

  5. Stir the drink.

    Blueberry Tea Cocktail Recipe
     The Spruce

  6. Garnish with an orange wheel. Serve and enjoy.

    Blueberry Tea Cocktail Recipe
     The Spruce

Tips

  • In order to get that amazing blueberry-like flavor, you really cannot play around with the ingredients too much. There is a variety of amaretto brands available, though it would be best to stick with a high-end label like Luxardo or Disaronno.
  • In contrast, there are not many great substitutes for Grand Marnier. While there are many orange liqueurs available, few have the cognac base that this drink requires. Don't try triple sec, Cointreau, or anything like that because they simply will not work.
  • GranGala is the one brand that can be recommended as a Grand Marnier substitute. This one is from Italy and has a brandy rather than French cognac base. It's quite nice and you will find that it saves a little money, too.

What Is Orange Pekoe Tea?

Orange pekoe tea is not orange-flavored. Rather, it's the name for a specific grade of orthodox black tea. You will not get the "blueberry" flavor that makes the blueberry tea special with an orange-based tea. If you do not have orange pekoe tea in stock, substitute it with another black tea or a blend like Earl Grey (which does have a hint of citrus). In the least, use green tea or oolong tea in its place.

How to Brew Orange Pekoe Tea

To make the best blueberry tea possible, pay attention to your tea's water temperature and brewing time. For black teas, you will want water heated between 180 F and 212 F, just under a full boil. The brewing time should be 3 to 5 minutes, though it's always a good idea to follow the recommendation of the particular tea you're using.

How Strong Is the Blueberry Tea?

Grand Marnier is an 80 proof liqueur, which makes it as strong as most vodkas, whiskeys, and rums. However, this drink has far more tea than liquor, so it's pleasantly mild. On average, it should weigh in around 6 percent ABV (12 proof).

Nutrition Facts (per serving)
793 Calories
2g Fat
179g Carbs
12g Protein
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Nutrition Facts
Servings: 1
Amount per serving
Calories 793
% Daily Value*
Total Fat 2g 3%
Saturated Fat 0g 1%
Cholesterol 0mg 0%
Sodium 16mg 1%
Total Carbohydrate 179g 65%
Dietary Fiber 28g 100%
Total Sugars 125g
Protein 12g
Vitamin C 734mg 3,671%
Calcium 508mg 39%
Iron 2mg 11%
Potassium 2269mg 48%
*The % Daily Value (DV) tells you how much a nutrient in a food serving contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.
(Nutrition information is calculated using an ingredient database and should be considered an estimate.)