Home Cook Together. Celebrate Life.

PeruvianAuthentic Cuisine

Peruvian Spiced Tea 2

Serves 4 to 6 Beverage vegan, Beverages

Peruvian Spiced Tea 2

Peruvian Spiced Tea 2 is a cherished staple in Peruvian households, lovingly crafted with intuition and shared at the family table. This version captures the essence of home cooking, where measurements are guided by experience rather than precision. Salt is judged by hand, and fat is used generously, embodying the warmth and hospitality of a Peruvian home. This tea is not just a drink; it's a comforting presence, always ready to accompany a conversation or a quiet moment.

The tea should unfold with a robust, earthy base from the tea leaves, balanced by a symphony of spices that dance across the palate. The sweetness is subtle, never overpowering, allowing the spices to shine through. Each sip offers a comforting warmth, inviting you to savor its rich flavors. It's a simple pleasure, meant to be enjoyed slowly, capturing the essence of home.

Ingredients

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

Method

  1. Start by bringing 500 ml of water to a gentle boil in a medium saucepan. Use a pot with a lid to help maintain the temperature and prevent excessive evaporation. Once the water reaches a rolling boil, remove it from the heat to avoid over-extraction of the tea leaves.
  2. Add 2 tablespoons of tea leaves to the hot water. Stir gently with a spoon to ensure the leaves are fully submerged. Cover the pot with its lid and let the tea steep for about 5 minutes. This allows the flavors to develop fully without becoming too bitter.
  3. After steeping, strain the tea into a clean pot or heat-safe pitcher to remove the leaves. Press the leaves gently with the back of a spoon to extract any remaining liquid. This ensures you capture the full depth of flavor from the tea leaves.
  4. Now, add your choice of spices to the strained tea. Common spices include cinnamon, cloves, and star anise, but feel free to adjust according to your taste. Stir the mixture gently to combine the flavors without losing the aromatic essence.
  5. Sweeten the tea to taste with sugar. Start with a small amount, stirring until it dissolves completely, and taste before adding more. The goal is to balance the sweetness with the spices, creating a harmonious blend that is neither too sweet nor too spicy.
  6. Once the tea is flavored and sweetened to your liking, pour it into traditional glassware for serving. The glass allows you to appreciate the rich color of the tea. Serve immediately to enjoy the full warmth and aroma of the freshly brewed Peruvian Spiced Tea 2.
Cover of Authentic Peruvian Cuisine
From the cookbook

Authentic Peruvian Cuisine

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

Available soon on Amazon…

Explore Peruvian cuisine