Black Tea Recipe

Inspired by The Well

Time8m

Serves1

Make Black Tea 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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1
Heat water
Measure 8 oz (about 240 ml) of fresh cold water. Bring water to a full boil (212°F / 100°C) in a kettle or saucepan.
2
Prewarm teaware (optional)
Pour a small amount of the boiling water into your teapot or cup, swirl to warm the vessel, then discard the rinse water. This helps maintain brewing temperature.
3
Steep tea
Place 2 tsp of loose-leaf black tea into an infuser or directly into the teapot. Pour the just-boiled water over the leaves. Steep for 3–5 minutes depending on desired strength: 3 minutes for a lighter cup, 4 minutes for standard strength, 5 minutes for robust/strong. Avoid steeping longer than 5 minutes to prevent excessive bitterness.
4
Strain
Remove the infuser or strain the tea leaves out of the pot or cup, transferring the brewed tea to your serving cup.

5
Add milk
If you prefer milk tea, add about 2 tbsp of warmed milk to the brewed tea and stir gently. Adjust amount to taste.
6
Sweeten
Stir in 1 tsp of your preferred sweetener (sugar, honey, or syrup). Taste and add more if desired.
7
Citrus or spice finish
For a bright note, garnish with a slice of lemon (do not add lemon if you used milk—lemon can curdle dairy). For a spiced variation, add 1/4 tsp of crushed cardamom, a small pinch of cinnamon, or a thin slice of fresh ginger to the leaves while steeping.