This lush lapsang souchong and mint ice cream combines invigorating flavors, offering a delightful twist on standard ice cream options.

Rich, creamy, and aromatic, the green mint ice cream features a smoky blend of lapsang souchong – a distinctive Chinese black tea – enhancing the vibrant freshness of this beloved garden herb.

The result is an adult-friendly ice cream that is both refreshing and sophisticated, ideal for concluding a summer barbecue spread.

Ingredients

  • Serves 6-8
  • 25.4 fl oz whole milk
  • 1 oz lapsang souchong tea leaves
  • 2 tbsp liquid glucose
  • 2.1 oz fresh mint leaves (about 1.6 oz de-stalked)
  • 3.5 oz vanilla sugar
  • 3 eggs
  • 2 tbsp flour
  • 7.4 fl oz single cream
  • 14 oz can condensed milk

Preparation Method

Lapsang Souchong and Green Mint Ice Cream

(Image credit: Laura Edwards)
  1. Heat 16 oz of milk in a medium saucepan until boiling, then add the tea leaves and stir. Cover and let it sit for 10 minutes.
  2. Strain the mixture through a sieve into a measuring jug, pressing to extract the flavors. Repeat the process and discard the leaves.
  3. Add the glucose and cool the mixture over ice. Pour 10 oz of the tea liquid into a food processor, add the mint, and blend until finely chopped. Return this liquid to the jug.
  4. To create the custard base, whisk together the vanilla sugar, eggs, and flour in a heatproof jug.
  5. In a medium saucepan, bring the remaining milk and all the cream to a boil, then pour this over the egg mixture and whisk for 30 seconds.
  6. Return the custard mix to the pan and cook over medium heat, whisking continuously for one to two minutes until it thickens. Remove from heat and stir in the condensed milk.
  7. Cool the mixture in iced water. Mix in the tea liquid and chill. Pour into a chilled ice cream maker and churn until firm (20-25 minutes); alternatively, freeze in a 1-liter container (this lidded container from Amazon is our recommended choice) for three hours.
  8. Remove and whisk briefly, then freeze for an additional two hours.
  9. Let it soften for 10 minutes before serving.

This delightful lapsang souchong and mint ice cream looks appealing when served in small coupes topped with mint sprigs or shavings of dark chocolate (70% cocoa or more). Pair it with almond or pistachio biscotti, roasted stone fruits, or fresh summer berries for an exquisite treat.