Black Tea with Mint
Why this recipe works
- Ready quickly: Short, controlled steeping keeps the whole drink fast while still producing a strong cup of tea.
- Clean layered infusion: The black tea is brewed first for body, then the mint is added off the heat so its aroma stays fresh.
- Softened tannins: A little sugar rounds out the natural bitterness of strong black tea without masking the mint.
- Simple ingredients: Water, black tea, mint, and sugar are enough to create a clear, fragrant drink with no complicated preparation.
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Timing notes
- Serve straight away: The mint is brightest just after straining, so pour the tea while it is still piping hot.
- Keep the steep short: The black tea only needs a brief steep before the mint goes in; leaving it too long can make the cup taste bitter.
Ingredient notes
- Choose a robust black tea: A full-flavoured dried black tea gives the drink enough structure to balance the mint and sweetness.
- Fresh mint matters: Fresh mint gives a cleaner, brighter aroma than dried mint, which can taste flatter in a short infusion.
- Sweeten to taste: Caster sugar dissolves quickly, but the sweetness can be adjusted depending on how strong or tannic the tea tastes.
Authenticity notes
- Small-glass serving: Pouring the tea into small glasses suits its strong flavour and keeps it easy to sip while hot.
- Optional aerating pour: Pouring the tea back and forth once or twice can lightly aerate it and give the surface a livelier finish.
Serving ideas
- Use heatproof glasses: Small heatproof glasses are ideal for the traditional serving style and help present the mint clearly.
- Add fresh mint: A small sprig of fresh mint in the glass reinforces the aroma as the tea is served.
- Serve with something simple: Plain biscuits, dates, or lightly sweet pastries work well without overwhelming the mint.
Equipment you'll need
Ingredients
Instructions
- Bring the water to the boil in a small saucepan. Remove from the heat, add the black tea, and leave to steep for 3 minutes for a strong brew.
- Stir in the caster sugar until dissolved. Add the mint leaves, cover, and infuse for 2 minutes.
- Strain into a small glass and serve straight away while piping hot. If you like, pour the tea back and forth between the pan and the glass once or twice to aerate it slightly.
Recipe notes
Tips
- For a cleaner, less bitter cup, do not steep the black tea for longer than 4 minutes.
- If serving to children or anyone sensitive to caffeine, use a shorter steep (about 2 minutes) for a gentler tea.
Substitutions
- Replace caster sugar with acacia honey for a softer sweetness; stir it in off the heat so the flavour stays fresh.
- Replace fresh mint with fresh lemon balm for a similar herbal lift.
Storage
- Refrigerate up to 1 days
- Best served immediately. If you have leftovers, cool quickly, refrigerate, and reheat gently in a saucepan until piping hot; the mint flavour will become more muted over time.
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Recipe overview
- Servings: 1 glasses
- Total time: 10min (5min active)
- Difficulty: Easy
- Cuisine: Middle Eastern
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