Shay Libi

Name: Shay Libi
Prep time: 5 min
Cook time: 15 min
Total time: 20 min
Yield: 4 servings
Cuisine: Libyan
Ingredients: 3 tbsp loose-leaf black tea; 4 cups water; 4 tbsp sugar; 1 sprig fresh mint; 2 tbsp roasted peanuts; 1 tsp rose water (optional)

شاي ليبي (SHAY LEE-bee)

Libyan Red Tea

⏱ Prep Time 20 min

📈 Difficulty Easy

👥 Servings

🔥 Calories 82 kcal

A strong, sweet tea brewed with loose-leaf red tea, fresh mint, and roasted peanuts, served in small glasses. This ritualistic Libyan tea is boiled three times for maximum flavor.

Nutrition & Info

Protein 2.0g

Carbs 14.0g

Fat 2.0g

Protein Carbs Fat

Dietary

vegetarian vegan dairy-free gluten-free

Allergen Warnings

⚠ peanuts

Equipment Needed

small teapot small tea glasses tea strainer

Presentation Guide

Vessel: small ornate tea glasses

Garnishes: roasted peanuts, mint sprig

Accompaniments: kaak cookies, magrood

Ingredients

3 tbsp loose-leaf black tea
4 cups water
4 tbsp sugar
1 sprig fresh mint
2 tbsp roasted peanuts
1 tsp rose water (optional)

Instructions

1
Add tea leaves and water to a small teapot. Bring to a boil over medium heat.
2
Once boiling, reduce heat and simmer for 5 minutes. The tea should become dark and strong.
3
Add sugar and stir. Return to a boil, then reduce heat again. Repeat this boiling process 3 times total.
4
Add fresh mint sprig in the last minute of brewing for a bright, herbaceous note.
5
Strain into small glasses. Drop a few roasted peanuts into each glass.
6
Serve immediately, pouring from a height to create a slight foam on top.

💡

Did You Know?

In Libya, refusing tea is considered a serious social offense. The proper response to offered tea is always: "Yes, please, with extra sugar."

Chef's Notes

Equipment Tips

small teapot
small tea glasses
tea strainer

Garnishing

roasted peanuts, mint sprig

Accompaniments

kaak cookies, magrood

The Story Behind Shay Libi

Libyan tea culture is among the most elaborate in North Africa, rivaling Moroccan tea traditions in ritual and importance. The triple-boiling method creates an intensely flavored brew that is uniquely Libyan. The addition of roasted peanuts floating in the glass is a distinctively Libyan touch found nowhere else in the tea-drinking world. Tea gatherings are the primary social institution of Libyan daily life, and the act of preparing and serving tea carries deep cultural significance, expressing hospitality, respect, and friendship.

🕐 Traditionally enjoyed after every meal, social gatherings 📜 Origins: Ottoman-era

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