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Kuti (Harari coffee-leaf tea)
Kuti: toasted coffee leaves brewed into a mellow, amber tea
Harar sits in old coffee country, and its households drink not only the beans but the leaves: kuti is made by toasting dried coffee leaves and brewing them into a light, amber tea. It tastes soft and grassy with a hint of roasted coffee and far less caffeine than a cup of buna, so it is sipped through the afternoon, during long chats and after the fast is broken in Ramadan. Many Harari homes add milk and sugar; leave the milk out or use a plant milk to keep it vegan. Dried coffee leaves are sold as coffee leaf tea by some coffee and tea merchants. Do not swap in cascara, which is the dried coffee cherry husk and makes a different, fruitier drink. Chef's tip: toast the leaves only until they darken a shade and smell like toasted hay; overdone, they taste of ash.
- Total time
- 14 min
- Difficulty
- easy
- Serves
- 4
Ingredients
- ⅓ oz dried coffee leavesabout 2 heaped tbsp, crumbled
- 4 ¼ cups water
- 3 tbsp sugaror to taste
- 1 tsp fresh ginger (optional)sliced
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Method
0/4 doneStep 1: Toast ⅓ oz dried coffee leaves in a dry pan over a low heat for 2–3 minutes, stirring, until a shade darker and fragrant.
3 minStep 2: Bring 4 ¼ cups water to the boil in a pot, add the leaves and 1 tsp fresh ginger if using.
4 minStep 3: Simmer gently for 5 minutes until the tea turns deep amber.
5 minStep 4: Stir in 3 tbsp sugar, strain into small glasses or cups and serve hot.
Nutrition per serving
- Calories
- 40 kcal
- Protein
- 0 g
- Carbs
- 10 g
- Fat
- 0 g
- Fibre
- 0 g
Nutrition values are estimates.
KrazyBadal
Good to know
- How long does kuti (Harari coffee-leaf tea) take?
- About 14 minutes in total: 2 minutes to prepare and 12 minutes to cook.
- How many people does it serve?
- 4 as written. Change the servings above the ingredients and every amount scales to match.
- Is it vegan?
- Yes. It has no meat, fish, dairy or eggs.
- Is it gluten free?
- Yes, as written. Check the labels on stock, sauces and spice mixes, which sometimes contain gluten.
- What can I use instead of sugar?
- Caster sugar, same amount.
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