A rich, aromatic tea brewed with cardamom, cinnamon, cloves, and sugar, simmered with milk to create a deeply flavored Somali staple drink.
Ingredients
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3 cups water
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1 cup whole milk
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3 tsp loose black tea leaves
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5 cardamom pods, crushed
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1 cinnamon stick
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3 whole cloves
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3 tbsp sugar or to taste
Instructions
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1
Add water, cardamom pods, cinnamon stick, and cloves to a small pot and bring to a boil.
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2
Reduce heat and simmer the spices for five minutes to extract their full flavor.
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3
Add tea leaves and continue simmering for three minutes until the tea is dark and strong.
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4
Pour in milk, increase heat slightly, and bring just to a boil, watching carefully to prevent overflow.
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5
Remove from heat, stir in sugar until dissolved, and strain into cups through a fine mesh strainer.
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6
Serve immediately while hot, as the first gesture of Somali hospitality to any guest.
Did You Know?
In Somali culture, refusing tea is considered impolite, and hosts will insist at least three times before accepting a refusal.