Regular Tea Recipe

Tea

1. 1

   Boil water

   Pour 2 cups of cold water into a small saucepan or kettle. Place over high heat and bring to a vigorous boil.

2. 2

   Add tea

   Once the water is boiling, reduce heat to medium and add 1 tablespoon of black tea leaves (or 1 black tea bag). If using cardamom, add the crushed pod now. Stir once to submerge the leaves/bag.

3. 3

   Simmer to steep

   Allow the tea to simmer gently for 3 minutes for a standard-strength brew (steep 2–4 minutes depending on desired strength). Keep the pan uncovered.

4. 4

   Add milk and sugar

   After steeping, pour in 1 cup of milk and add 1 teaspoon granulated sugar (or your preferred sweetener). Stir, bring the mixture back to a gentle simmer — do not let it boil over — for 1 minute to heat the milk and dissolve the sugar.

5. 5

   Strain and serve

   Turn off the heat. If you used loose tea leaves, strain the tea into two cups through a fine-mesh strainer to remove leaves and any spices. If you used a tea bag, remove and discard it. Taste and adjust sweetness if desired.

6. 6

   Optional finishing

   If you prefer no milk, skip adding milk and pour the strained tea into cups. For a sweeter cup, stir in additional honey or sugar to taste.