Lebanese Spiced Tea (Printable)
Fragrant black tea infused with warming Middle Eastern spices like cinnamon, cardamom, and ginger. A comforting beverage perfect for any time of day.
# What You Need:
→ Tea & Water
01 - 4 cups water
02 - 2 tablespoons loose black tea or 4 black tea bags
→ Spices
03 - 1 cinnamon stick
04 - 4 green cardamom pods, lightly crushed
05 - 4 whole cloves
06 - 1-inch piece fresh ginger, thinly sliced
07 - 1 star anise (optional)
→ Sweetener & Garnish
08 - 2-3 tablespoons sugar or honey, to taste
09 - Lemon slices (optional)
# How To Make It:
01 - Combine water, cinnamon stick, crushed cardamom pods, cloves, ginger slices, and star anise if using in a medium saucepan. Bring to a gentle boil over medium heat.
02 - Reduce heat to low and simmer for 5 minutes to allow the spices to fully infuse the water with their aromatic flavors.
03 - Add loose black tea or tea bags to the spiced water. Simmer for 3 minutes, or up to 5 minutes for a stronger brew.
04 - Remove from heat and strain the tea through a fine mesh strainer into a teapot or heatproof jug. Discard the spent spices and tea leaves or bags.
05 - Stir in sugar or honey to taste. Pour into teacups and garnish with lemon slices if desired. Serve hot.
# Expert Suggestions:
01 -
- The spices create a warming embrace that feels like a hug in a mug
- Perfect for when you want something comforting without the caffeine jolt of coffee
02 -
- Overboiling the tea makes it bitter, so keep an eye on the clock once those tea leaves hit the water
- The longer you let the spices simmer before adding tea, the more pronounced their individual flavors will be
03 -
- Toast your spices in a dry pan for 30 seconds before adding water to unlock their oils
- Let the tea steep with a saucer on top of the cup to trap all those aromatic vapors