Regular Tea Recipe

Tea

1. 1

   Boil water

   Pour 2 cups of cold water into a small saucepan. Add the crushed cardamom pod and/or sliced ginger now if using. Place over medium-high heat and bring to a gentle boil (small rolling bubbles) — about 3–4 minutes.

2. 2

   Add tea

   Reduce heat slightly so the water is simmering but not aggressively boiling. Add 1 tablespoon of black tea leaves (or one tea bag). Stir once, then let the tea simmer for 2–3 minutes for a standard-strength brew (4 minutes for stronger). Keep the lid off so flavor concentrates rather than becoming bitter.

3. 3

   Add milk and sugar

   Pour in 1 cup of milk and add 1 teaspoon of granulated sugar (adjust to taste). Increase heat to bring the mixture back to a gentle boil; watch carefully to prevent the milk from boiling over. Once it begins to rise and small bubbles form at the edges (about 1–2 minutes), lower heat.

4. 4

   Simmer briefly

   Let the tea simmer with milk for 1 minute so flavors meld. Stir gently to prevent sticking. Taste and add more sugar if desired, stirring to dissolve.

5. 5

   Strain and serve

   Turn off the heat. Using a fine-mesh strainer, strain the tea into two cups (or one large cup) to remove tea leaves, cardamom, and ginger. Serve immediately hot.

6. 6

   Optional adjustments

   For a stronger cup, increase tea leaves to 1.5 tbs or steep 1 additional minute. For a lighter cup, use 1/2 cup milk or reduce tea leaves to 2 tsp. Use honey or sweetener instead of sugar if preferred.