Restaurants›Cafe Talya›Tea Recipe

Tea Recipe

Inspired by Cafe Talya

Time8m

Serves1

Make Tea Recipe in just 8m. Get the full recipe with step-by-step instructions at pekinthechef.com.

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Ingredients

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For the tea (per 1 cup)

1 cups Water1 tsp Loose black tea leaves (or 1 tea bag)1 tsp Sugar or sweetener (optional)2 tbs Milk (dairy or plant-based, optional)

Optional flavorings (per 1 cup)

1/2 tbs Fresh lemon (slice) or lemon juice2 leaves Fresh mint leaves1/8 tsp Ground ginger1 pod Cardamom pods (crushed)

Method

For the tea (per 1 cup)

Boil water

Bring 1 cup (240 ml) of fresh cold water to a rolling boil in a kettle or small saucepan.

Warm the cup (optional)

Pour a little hot water into your teacup, swirl to warm, then discard that water. This helps maintain brewing temperature.

Steep the tea

Place 1 tsp loose black tea (or 1 tea bag) into an infuser or directly into the cup. Pour the boiling water over the tea, cover the cup with a small lid or saucer to trap heat, and steep for 3–5 minutes depending on desired strength (3 minutes for mild, 5 minutes for strong).

Strain and sweeten

If using loose tea, remove the infuser or strain the tea into another cup. Add sugar or sweetener to taste (start with 1 tsp) and stir until dissolved.

Add milk (optional)

If you prefer milk tea, add 2 tablespoons of milk (or plant alternative) and stir. Adjust amount to taste.

Optional flavorings (per 1 cup)

Lemon: If using lemon, omit milk. Add a half tablespoon of lemon juice or a slice of lemon after steeping. Stir gently.

Mint: Lightly bruise 1–2 fresh mint leaves with the back of a spoon and add to the cup before or during steeping for a subtle mint aroma.

Spice: For ginger or cardamom, add a small pinch of ground ginger or one crushed cardamom pod to the water as it boils, then proceed to steep the tea in that spiced water for integrated flavor.