AL AMIR'S MIDDLE EASTERN TEA (HOT OR ICED)

Al Amir's Middle Eastern Tea (Hot or Iced) image

Provided by C G

Time 20m

Number Of Ingredients 16

HOT TEA:
6 c boiling water, approximately
4 black tea bags or loose tea (i used an aged earl grey by numi™)
1 tsp dried mint
3-4 whole cardamom pods
1/4 tsp anise seeds
ICED TEA:
6 black tea bags
3-4 sprig(s) fresh mint
3-4 whole cardamom pods
1/4 tsp anise seeds
2 Tbsp good quality honey, to taste
FOR FINISHING:
fresh mint, for garnish
honey or other sweetener, to taste
rosewater or orange blossom water (for the iced tea version)

Steps:

1. DIRECTIONS FOR HOT TEA: Boil about 6 cups of water. Lightly crush the cardamom and anise seeds in a pestle and mortar or with the back of a spoon. Place the spices in a tea infuser or wrap up in a small piece of muslin cloth.
2. Place tea bags in a heatproof container. Add the spices then the boiling water. Steep for approximately 5 minutes. Remove the tea bags. Serve with honey or sugar on the side.
3. DIRECTIONS FOR ICED TEA: Boil the water and while it boils prepare the spices as indicated in Step #1.
4. Add the spices and tea bags to a heatproof container. Add the honey. Pour the boiling water into the container and allow tea to steep 10 minutes.
5. Remove the tea bags and allow tea to cool about 15-20 minutes.
6. Place the sprigs of fresh mint and about 2 cups of ice cubes in the tea.
7. Pour into individual drinking glasses with a fresh mint leaf floating in each serving. Optional: If desired, add approximately 1/4 teaspoon of rose water and/or orange blossom water to each serving of ICED TEA.