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Middle Eastern Spiced Tea

Serves 4 to 6 Beverage vegan, Beverages

Middle Eastern Spiced Tea

Middle Eastern Spiced Tea is a staple in many homes across the region, a comforting brew served throughout the day. It's a drink that bridges the gap between meals, often accompanying quiet afternoons or lively conversations. Unlike the more ceremonial teas, this version reflects the everyday, home-cooked approach, where proportions are guided by intuition and familiarity rather than strict measurements.

The tea offers a robust blend of earthy tea leaves, subtly sweetened, and layered with spices that warm the palate. Each sip provides a complex interplay of flavors, a reflection of the cook's hand in balancing spice and sweetness. It's a drink meant to be savored slowly, a personal moment woven into the fabric of daily life.

Ingredients

  • 2 tbsptea leaves
  • 500 mlwater
  • to tastespices
  • to tastesugar

Method

  1. Begin by bringing 500 ml of water to a gentle boil in a medium saucepan. Use a saucepan with a lid to ensure the tea can steep properly later. The water should be at a rolling boil, with bubbles consistently breaking the surface.
  2. Once the water is boiling, add 2 tablespoons of tea leaves to the saucepan. Stir gently to ensure the leaves are fully immersed in the water. This step is crucial for releasing the full flavor of the tea leaves.
  3. Add your chosen spices to the boiling water. Common spices include cardamom, cinnamon, or cloves, but feel free to adjust according to your taste. Stir the mixture gently to combine, allowing the spices to infuse the water with their aroma.
  4. Reduce the heat to low and cover the saucepan with its lid. Let the tea simmer for about 5 minutes. The tea is ready when the aroma of the spices is rich and fragrant, and the liquid has taken on a deep, inviting color.
  5. Once the tea has steeped, remove the saucepan from the heat. Carefully strain the tea into a teapot or directly into serving glasses to remove the tea leaves and spices.
  6. Sweeten the tea to taste with sugar, stirring until it dissolves completely. Taste and adjust the sweetness as needed, ensuring it complements the spices without overpowering them.
  7. Serve the spiced tea immediately in traditional glassware, if available. This allows you to appreciate the color and aroma of the tea, enhancing the overall experience.
Cover of Authentic Middle Eastern Cuisine
From the cookbook

Authentic Middle Eastern Cuisine

This recipe is from Authentic Middle Eastern Cuisine by Yassine Sbiti — the Middle Eastern volume in the ComidaTime International Cuisines series.

Available soon on Amazon…

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