Adeni Tea Recipe (Yemeni Spiced Milk Tea)

Water: The base liquid for brewing the tea.

Black tea leaves: Provides the strong, robust flavor characteristic of Adeni tea.

Milk: Adds creaminess and richness to the tea.

Sugar: Sweetens the tea to balance the spices and tea's natural bitterness.

Ground cardamom: Adds a warm, aromatic flavor that is essential to the tea's unique taste.

Cinnamon stick: Infuses the tea with a subtle, sweet spice.

To enhance the flavor of your Adeni tea, consider lightly toasting the cinnamon stick and cardamom in a dry pan for a minute before adding them to the boiling water. This will release their essential oils and deepen the aromatic profile of the tea.

• water - Substitute with coconut water: Adds a subtle sweetness and a hint of tropical flavor.

• black tea leaves - Substitute with green tea leaves: Provides a lighter, more delicate flavor while still offering a caffeine boost.

• milk - Substitute with almond milk: A dairy-free alternative that adds a nutty flavor and is suitable for lactose-intolerant individuals.

• sugar - Substitute with honey: Adds a natural sweetness and a slight floral note.

• ground cardamom - Substitute with ground allspice: Offers a similar warm, spicy flavor profile.

• cinnamon stick - Substitute with ground cinnamon: Provides the same warm, sweet spice but in a more readily available form.

• Allow the Adeni tea to cool to room temperature before storing. This prevents condensation and helps maintain the tea's flavor and texture.
• Transfer the cooled tea into an airtight container. Glass jars or BPA-free plastic containers work best to preserve the spices and tea aroma.
• Store the container in the refrigerator. The tea can be kept fresh for up to 3-4 days.
• When ready to enjoy, reheat the tea gently on the stove over low heat. Avoid boiling to maintain the delicate balance of spices.
• For freezing, pour the cooled tea into freezer-safe containers, leaving some space at the top for expansion.
• Label the containers with the date and contents to keep track of storage time.
• Freeze the tea for up to 2 months. For best results, use within this period to enjoy the full flavor profile.
• To thaw, transfer the container from the freezer to the refrigerator and let it thaw overnight.
• Reheat the thawed tea on the stove over low heat, stirring occasionally to ensure even warming and to revive the spiced aroma.
• If the tea separates slightly after thawing, give it a good stir to reincorporate the milk and spices.

• Pour the leftover Adeni tea into a small saucepan and heat it over medium-low heat. Stir occasionally to ensure even heating and prevent the milk from scorching. Once it reaches your desired temperature, pour it into a cup and enjoy.

• If you prefer using a microwave, transfer the Adeni tea to a microwave-safe mug. Heat it on medium power in 30-second intervals, stirring in between, until it is hot enough. Be cautious not to overheat, as the milk can boil over.

• For a more traditional touch, use a double boiler. Fill the bottom part with water and place the Adeni tea in the top part. Heat over medium heat, stirring occasionally, until the tea is warmed through.

• If you have a milk frother with a heating function, pour the Adeni tea into the frother and heat it according to the manufacturer's instructions. This method can also help recreate the frothy texture of freshly made tea.

• To preserve the delicate flavors, avoid reheating Adeni tea in a high-temperature oven or directly over high heat, as this can cause the milk to curdle and the spices to lose their aroma.

• Saucepan: Used to boil the water and simmer the tea with spices.
• Teaspoon: For measuring the ground cardamom.
• Tablespoon: For measuring the black tea leaves and sugar.
• Strainer: To strain the tea into a teapot, removing the tea leaves and spices.
• Teapot: To serve the hot Adeni tea.
• Stirring spoon: To stir the milk and sugar into the tea mixture.

Pre-measure ingredients: Measure out black tea leaves, cardamom, and cinnamon stick in advance to save time during preparation.

Use a tea infuser: Place black tea leaves and spices in a tea infuser for easy removal, eliminating the need to strain.

Heat milk separately: Warm the milk in a microwave while the tea simmers to speed up the process.

Batch preparation: Make a larger batch of Adeni tea and store it in the fridge. Reheat as needed.

Simmer together: Combine water, tea leaves, spices, milk, and sugar all at once and simmer to save steps.