Have you ever needed help when exploring teas? Maybe a dictionary of terms so that you can better understand the tea you’re drinking? Maybe you want a spotlight on a specific tea? All these things and more can be found in one place! Nicole of Tea For Me Please has an incredible site that is the perfect place for knowledge and fun for tea lovers anywhere on their tea journey. When I first started branching out into other teas than what I’m used to, I found it so helpful to be able to find an article about a specific tea or to look up a term in her Tea Nerd Dictionary!

I was really excited when Nicole came out with a tea recipe book for a few reasons. I’ve been following Nicole since the early days of Tea Thoughts so I was so excited for her to become a published author, what an accomplishment! But also, as someone who is creating things for tea lovers where there is a gap in offerings, this book is perfect! Sure, I’ve seen a couple of books with some tea recipes and one with matcha recipes but this book encompasses every tea. I also know that Nicole is a truly a tea lover and that these recipes are coming from someone with a deep knowledge! Not only does Nicole have a variety of recipes but she goes over brewing and teaware basics to help you along the way.

My personal favorite section of the book is the cocktails! I love to make mock/cocktails with tea especially if I get a tea that has a knockout flavor that I know would be great. I’m excited to get some of the ingredients and make more tea drinks!

Below you can find more information about Nicole!
You can also purchase the book HERE.

Can you please introduce yourself and Tea For Me Please?

My name is Nicole and I'm a tea writer and educator. Through my blog, Tea for Me Please, I've been sharing my love of tea online for over a decade. My favorite thing about what I do is helping people learn about tea in a fun and approachable way.

What started you on your tea journey and what was the inspiration to start your blog?

I grew up drinking milky sweet cups of Red Rose before bed every night. During my college years, I started exploring other teas and stumbled upon a website that was looking for volunteer tea reviewers. They sent me a ton of samples to drink and write about every month. It was an awesome early education in all things tea. I started my blog as a place to back up the writing that I was doing for them, but it eventually took on a life of its own.

What does your current tea ritual look like?

I'm not able to drink much tea during the workday, but I usually brew up a nice big mug in the evening when I get home. My days off always start with whisking up a bowl of matcha. After that, it is time for content creation so the tea I'm brewing is usually dictated by what blog posts or other projects I might be working on. I also try to fit in time for a gongfu session where I drink tea just for the sake of enjoyment.

Any teas you are reaching for more this week/month?

Early spring always has me reaching for more green tea. It's so exciting to see the new harvests come in from all over the world. I've also been trying my best to sip down my stash. It gets out of control sometimes, so I've been making a lot of cold brew iced tea to use up those that are a bit past their prime.

What was the inspiration for creating a recipe book?

Writing a tea book has been a dream of mine for a long time. I just didn't know exactly what I wanted to write about. It just so happened that my publisher approached me because they were looking for someone to write a tea recipe book. I wanted to make sure the book was very beginner-friendly while still sneaking in a bit of tea nerdery here and there.

Do you have a favorite section of recipes in the book?

My favorite section is actually the one I struggled with the most. Bubble tea! I just wasn't happy with the pre-made boba out there and all of the recipes I found made huge batches where a lot would go to waste. That led me to develop a way to make tapioca pearls at a smaller scale in the microwave. It took a lot of experimentation, but I'm proud of the way it all turned out.

Do you have a favorite recipe in the book that you create often?

The Matcha Lemon Sugar Cookies are definitely my favorite recipe. They have the perfect soft and chewy consistency. The flavors also go together really well. I made them for my family during the holidays and they were a big hit, even for those who don't normally like green tea.

Do you have any advice for someone who is just starting out cooking/baking/creating with tea?

Have fun and don't be afraid to experiment! A lot of the recipes in the book came about just by simply playing around in the kitchen. If you don't like the results, adjust your parameters and try again. Tea is an incredibly versatile ingredient so there are endless ways to use it.

Is there anything else you want to share about the book or about Tea For Me Please?

It's amazing to be able to say I am a published author. The support I've received from the tea community has been incredible. Now that the work of writing is finished, I'm hoping to launch some online tea courses later this year. Members of my Patreon community will be the first to know about it when they are ready.