Hot Tea Recipe

Boil water

Pour 2 cups of fresh cold water into a kettle or small saucepan. Bring water to a rolling boil over medium-high heat (about 3–5 minutes depending on stove).

Steep tea

Place 1 black tea bag (or 1 tsp loose black tea in an infuser) into a teapot or cup. Pour the boiling water over the tea. Cover the cup or pot and steep for 3–5 minutes: 3 minutes for a lighter cup, 5 minutes for stronger flavor.

Remove tea

Remove and discard the tea bag or lift out the infuser. Gently press the tea bag against the cup’s side with a spoon if you prefer a slightly stronger taste, but avoid pressing too hard to prevent bitterness.

Sweeten

If using honey or sugar, add 1 teaspoon while the tea is hot so it dissolves quickly. Stir until fully dissolved. Adjust sweetness to taste.

Citrus or dairy

For lemon tea: add 1 teaspoon fresh lemon juice and stir. For milk tea: add 2 tablespoons milk or cream and stir. Do not add lemon and milk together (lemon will curdle milk).

Spiced or herbal variations

To make a ginger or cinnamon tea, add 3 thin slices of fresh ginger or 1 cinnamon stick to the water before boiling and simmer together for 3–5 minutes, then strain and proceed with steeping the tea bag. For mint tea, add 4 fresh mint leaves to the cup and gently bruise them before pouring hot water to release aroma.

Serve

Taste and adjust: add more sweetener, lemon, or milk as desired. Serve hot in a pre-warmed cup. Estimated serving is one standard cup.