Hot Tea - Black Recipe
Make Hot Tea - Black 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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Tea Base
Optional Additions
Method
Brewing
Pre-warm cup or teapot
While the water heats, pour a small splash of the hot water into your cup or teapot, swirl, and discard. This helps maintain brewing temperature.
Steep tea
Place 1.5 tsp loose black tea (or 1 black tea bag) into an infuser or directly in the cup. Pour the boiling water over the tea and cover the cup or pot to trap heat. Steep for 3 to 4 minutes for a balanced cup; steep 4 to 5 minutes for a stronger, more robust brew. Avoid steeping longer than 5 minutes to minimize bitterness.
Remove leaves or tea bag
After steeping, remove the infuser or tea bag promptly to stop extraction. If loose leaves were used directly in the cup, strain the tea into another cup.
Finishing & Serving
Taste the brewed tea and add optional items as desired. Stir in up to 1 tsp sugar or 1 tsp honey to sweeten. Add 1 to 2 tbsp milk if you prefer a creamier cup (add milk slowly and taste to reach desired color/creaminess). Alternatively, add a fresh lemon slice for brightness (do not add lemon and milk together, as lemon will curdle milk). For a spiced variation, add 2 thin slices of fresh ginger to the cup while steeping and remove with the tea.
Serve hot. The recipe yields one 1-cup serving. Enjoy within 10–15 minutes for best flavor.