Amaretto Black Tea

Glenbrook Farms

The romance of Italian amaretto — that warm, sweet, almond-kissed flavor beloved across Italy and the world — captured in a beautifully blended black tea. Glenbrook’s Amaretto Black Tea pairs a fine, full-bodied black tea base with the distinctive flavor of amaretto — a complex, sweet-bitter almond and apricot character that is one of the most recognizable and beloved flavor profiles in the culinary world. The result is a cup that is rich, warming, and deeply aromatic — the kind of tea that makes an ordinary afternoon feel like a moment worth savoring.

The Story of Amaretto: The word amaretto is the Italian diminutive of amaro (bitter) — “a little bitter” — a reference to the characteristic bittersweet almond flavor that defines the profile. The flavor of amaretto derives not from sweet almonds but from bitter almonds (Prunus amygdalus var. amara) or, more commonly, from apricot kernels (Prunus armeniaca) — the hard seeds inside apricot pits, which contain benzaldehyde and amygdalin (a cyanogenic glycoside that releases benzaldehyde upon hydrolysis), producing the characteristic marzipan-like aroma. The most famous amaretto liqueur — Disaronno Originale — has been produced in Saronno, Lombardy, since at least the 18th century, and according to legend, was created in 1525 as a gift from a Saronno innkeeper to the Renaissance artist Bernardino Luini (a student of Leonardo da Vinci), who was painting a fresco of the Madonna in the local church. Whether legend or history, the flavor has endured for centuries — and it translates beautifully into tea.

The Tea Base: A fine black tea — full-bodied, malty, and robust — provides the perfect canvas for the sweet, almond-apricot amaretto flavor. Black tea (Camellia sinensis) is fully oxidized, producing the characteristic amber liquor, malty depth, and brisk character that stands up beautifully to flavoring. The combination of black tea’s natural tannins and the sweet warmth of amaretto creates a cup that is balanced, complex, and deeply satisfying.

Tasting Notes

Aroma: Sweet almond, apricot, warm marzipan, with the malty depth of fine black tea. Flavor: Rich and warming — sweet almond and apricot on the front palate, transitioning to the full-bodied, slightly tannic character of black tea on the finish. Body: Full and satisfying. Color: Deep amber to rich mahogany.

How to Brew

Hot: Use 1 teaspoon per 8 oz of freshly boiled water (212°F). Steep 3–5 minutes — shorter for a lighter cup, longer for a bolder brew. Add milk or cream for a luscious amaretto tea latte. Sweeten with sugar, honey, or almond syrup. Iced: Brew double-strength (2 teaspoons per 8 oz), steep 4 minutes, then pour over ice. Amaretto Tea Latte: Brew strong, steam or froth milk, combine, and finish with a sprinkle of ground almond or a drizzle of honey. Baking: Use strongly brewed Amaretto Black Tea as a liquid in cakes, cookies, and marzipan preparations for a subtle almond-tea depth.

Available in loose leaf (2 oz, 4 oz).

Contains caffeine. Keep in an airtight container away from direct sunlight, strong odors, and moisture.