Just when I think that a thousand year old beverage, like tea, couldn't possibly innovate any further, along comes TikTok to change the game. One of our favorite trends that actually stuck in the past years? Tea bombs, a highly photogenic brew that’s guaranteed to convert even diehard coffee fans into tea lovers.
But since we expect our drinks to do double duty around here, our homemade version of tea bombs include beauty-boosting ingredients like collagen and pearl powder to help you get glowing skin from the inside out.
Rest easy. While they might look fancy, they’re actually super simple to make and they’ll even save you time in the long run.
What are tea bombs?
Tea bombs are essentially candy crystal balls filled with tea, organic flowers, and in this case, skin-supporting ingredients like pearl powder in the middle.
When you pour hot water over them, the candy shell melts, leaving you with a lightly sweetened brew that’s as pretty to look at as it is fun to drink! Just sip daily for vibrant, radiant skin.
Beauty-boosting ingredients
While a lot of tea bombs are made with isomalt, a faux-sugar beetroot derivative, we like to keep things as simple and as close to the source as possible. Ours are made with all-natural demerara sugar and honey and then filled with hibiscus tea and beauty-boosting ingredients.
- Collagen has been shown to help support skin's moisture and texture and promote even skin tone - all from the inside out.
- Hyaluronic acid is a compound found naturally in the body's connective tissues such as skin and cartilage with a unique capacity to bind and retain water molecules. Hyaluronic acid in turn supports healthy skin moisture and helps maintain youthful looking skin.
- Pearl powder is good for you both on the inside and outside. And yes, it really is a powder made from pearls, just like those found in jewelry. Freshwater pearls are ground into a super fine powder that’s easily absorbed and used by the body.
- Hibiscus has quickly become one of our favorite tea choices. With a deliciously tart, almost cranberry-like flavor, a cup of this relaxing brew contains a number of healthy, natural compounds to keep you going strong. Plus it's made from organic hibiscus flowers in unbleached tea bags with no artificial colors, flavors, preservatives, or sugars.
How to Make Tea Bombs
Heat the sugar mixture over high heat until you reach 300 degrees F, or what’s referred to as the hard crack stage in candy making. The sugar mix will froth and bubble but it shouldn’t overflow the pot. Still, you’ll want to keep a close eye on things because once it gets rolling, the temperature can rise quickly.
The second your sugar hits 300 degrees, take the pot off the heat. The sugar mixture will continue cooking slightly as it sits and can still burn, so you have to be precise (that’s where a candy thermometer comes into play).
Next, spread the melted sugar mixture evenly inside your molds and let it cool completely.
Once they’re cool to the touch, pop ‘em out and fill one half with your teabag, powder and flower petals. Assemble the tea bombs as described in the recipe card.
store tea bombs in a wax paper lined container with an airtight lid. As they sit, the candy shell has a tendency to soften or become sticky, especially when exposed to heat or moisture. So, make sure to keep them as dry as possible.
FAQ
It's super simple: pop one tea bomb in a glass, add hot water and let the magical brewing experience commence.
Once assembled, store tea bombs in a wax paper lined container with an airtight lid. To prevent softening, keep as dry as possible.
After filling one half of the mold with tea, place a saute pan on the stove over low heat. Take the other half of the shell and place it edge-side down on a warm pan for several seconds to just barely melt the edges (it doesn’t take long!) Press the two halves together and hold them together as it cools.
Beauty-Boosting Collagen + Pearl Hibiscus Tea Bombs
Equipment
- Small saucepan
- Candy thermometer
- 2.5” spherical silicone molds
- Paint brush
Materials
- 1 cup turbinado sugar
- ⅓ cup manuka honey
- 2 tablespoons water
- ½ tablespoon NOW® Solutions Aquatic Beauty Powder
- 1 hibiscus tea
- Organic food-grade rose buds optional
- ¼ teaspoon pearl powder
Instructions
Make the Candy Shells
- Combine sugar, honey and water in a small saucepan. Boil over medium-high heat until the thermometer registers 300 F.
- Immediately remove from heat and let cool 1-2 minutes.
- Pour roughly 2 teaspoons of sugar mixture into each mold. Working quickly, use a paintbrush to spread out the melted sugar so it reaches all the way up the sides of the mold.
- Let cool for about 5 minutes, or until the sugar has hardened and doesn’t bend when you try to remove from the mold. Flip the mold over and push on the bottom of the sphere while peeling off one side of the mold. Don’t try to loosen the mold first, or it might crack the candy. Once removed, let the shells cool for an additional 5-10 minutes.
Assemble the Tea Bombs
- Fill one half of the shell with Aquatic Beauty Powder, a tea bag (feel free to cut off the tag, if you like. Or you can just hang outside of the tea bomb before sealing the sides together), pearl powder and rose petals.
- Place a saute pan on the stove over low heat. Take the other half of the shell and place it edge-side down on a warm pan for several seconds to just barely melt the edges (it doesn’t take long!) Press the two halves together and hold them together as it cools.
- To use, place a tea bomb in a mug or heat-proof glass and pour hot water over top. Stir vigorously until the shell and Aquatic Beauty Powder is completely dissolved.
- Drink immediately.
Notes
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