Updated on 10/3/2019: Tired of stale, tasteless, un-sweet tea? My DIY Citrus Ginger Mint Tea Bags with Honey Crystals are the perfect solution and steeped in “I cared enough to make them with my own hands,” that they make a thoughtful holiday gift. 
Read on to get the recipe and tutorial on how to make your own tea bags:
I’m going to blab a lot about the sweetener I used in these DIY Citrus Ginger Mint Tea Bags with Honey Crystals , because I love it so much! Our family loves to use honey as a sweetener in everything from mugs of tea, smoothies, bowls full of healthy cereal and more – I even mix it up with molasses, salt and a dash of protein powder to make a homemade sports fuel.
However, messy and sticky bottles are a pet peeve of this mom – my kids can’t seem to keep from dribbling it all down the sides. Okay, maybe I’m a little messy too – like that time I stuck the honey “bear” in my purse for ice tea during a lunch out . . . . uh, and I bet you can guess the ensuing disaster. Metaphorical bees also get in my bonnet when cooler weather rolls in and my precious honey crystalizes in the jar – it can be rejuvenated by soaking in the bottle in hot water, but the honey is just never the same.
I recently found a great way to get around all these honey dilemmas – granulated honey! I had never heard of it before, and there are several brands — but basically the product is 100 percent natural crystals are super yummy sweet and deliver the distinctive taste of honey but the convenience of dry sugars and sweeteners.
So back to the genius HOMEMADE tea bags. I’ve been making crafty gifts for the holiday season using granulated honey in my edible gifts that include everything from cookies and sweet-savory spice rubs to these thoughtful DIY Citrus Ginger Mint Tea Bags with Honey Crystals. My DIY Tea Bags are made out of unbleached coffee filters and my recipe for Citrus Ginger Mint Tea.
DIY Citrus Ginger Mint Tea Bags with Honey Crystals:
Mix 3 ounces of your favorite loose leaf tea (preferably the Citrus Ginger Mint Tea recipe HERE) with 2 tablespoons honey crystals, more or less depending on sweetness preferences. Add a couple tablespoons of tea mixture to inside of ‘cone” style coffee filter. Fold coffee filters per photo tutorial photo above and staple on food-safe string and gift tag. Makes approximately 36 tea bags. Steep in very hot water for 3 minutes and enjoy!
OH I GOT THIS ONE 🙂
Dipping apples into it for the jewish new year!
yeah! happy happy!
Such a cute idea!!!
thanks Annmarie!
My husband might hate me for stealing is coffee filters but I want to try this!
so less messy than trying to use a tea strainer (or whatever they’re called) — I usually end up scattering leaves everywhere
That’s such a cute idea! And I love the idea of honey crystals because man, that honey bear IS a big mess!
I first made these without the sweetener — and then when I was introduced to Nektar, it was a no-brainer!
What a fun gift idea! How did I never think of this before?! They’re so pretty too. 🙂
Thanks Laura!
i love honey and stevia in hot drinks
Haven’t been creative with honey because of those annoying bottles.
What a great idea thanks for the chance
I like using honey on toast or while cooking as a sweetener.
I guess my most unique use for honey besides cooking anyway is using it on burns or cuts that are open an then bandgage. Honey has a natiral antibacterial property and is excellent for that.
I love honey in tea and on toast too!
Nothing very unique, but I do use it in every loaf of bread I bake
When I’ve had a cough and sore throat, I’ve eaten a spoonful of liquid honey to sooth my cough and scratchy throat.
I just like honey in general. Be it on toast, in tea, or drizzled over ice cream. If I can include honey, I will.
I saw this on facebook and think this is an amazing idea! I love tea! You are so clever! I’ve never tried Nektar, but would love too. I’m boring with my honey, just use in tea, smoothies, cooking, etc.
but YOU, my dear, and the QUEEN of crafty!
It’s not unique but I love honey on oatmeal and raisins….
i love the teabag idea! i dont really have a unique way to use honey either, but i do love it in my smoothies!
Favorite use: in my tea. Strangest use: as a topical acne treatment.
I use honey for allergies
I love honey in my tea!
Can I be super lame and say Peanut Butter and Honest sandwhiches?
totally NOT lame!
I like to put honey in my coffee and I’m going to be making honey cakes this week it’s a very old family recipe.