Hot Tea Recipe

Measure and heat water

Measure 2 cups of fresh cold water. Pour the water into a small saucepan or kettle and bring to a gentle boil over medium-high heat (about 4–6 minutes depending on stovetop).

Add optional aromatics

If using fresh ginger or whole spices, add them to the water as it heats or immediately once the water boils. Reduce heat to maintain a low simmer and simmer with aromatics for 2–3 minutes to extract flavor.

Add tea

Remove the pan from direct high heat. Add 2 tsp loose black tea (or 2 tea bags) to the hot water. If you prefer a lighter cup and are using green tea, substitute black tea and steep at lower temperature (see note).

Steep time

Cover the pan or place a lid on the teacup and let the tea steep: 3–5 minutes for black tea (3 for lighter, 5 for stronger). For green tea, steep 2–3 minutes at just-below-boiling (~80–85°C).

Strain and combine

Strain the tea into a cup to remove loose leaves, tea bags, ginger, and spices. If you added a cinnamon stick or cardamom pods, remove them as well.

Add sweetener, milk, and lemon

Stir in your chosen add-ins: 1 tsp honey or sugar (or to taste), 1–2 tbsp milk if desired, or 1 tsp lemon juice for a bright finish. Note: do not add lemon and milk together — lemon can cause milk to curdle. Adjust to taste.

Serve

Serve the hot tea immediately while warm. If you used strong spices or ginger, taste and adjust sweetener or milk before serving.