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Lal sah
Red tea
ৰঙা চাহ · Assam's ruby-red black tea, sweetened and drunk without milk
In Assam, the home of half of India's tea, the everyday cup is lal sah, 'red tea': strong CTC or orthodox Assam leaf brewed briefly, poured off, sweetened and drunk black. It is what tea-garden workers, Guwahati office-goers and grandmothers drink from morning till evening, often with a slice of lemon, a crushed piece of ginger or, in upper Assam, a bay leaf. Its colour is a deep, clear red and its taste is malty and brisk, never stewed. Chef's tip: take the pan off the heat before adding the leaves; boiling them makes the tea harsh and cloudy.
- Total time
- 7 min
- Difficulty
- easy
- Serves
- 2
Ingredients
- 2 cups water
- 2 tsp sugaror to taste
- ⅜ in gingercrushed
- 2 lemon slices1
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Method
0/3 doneStep 1: Bring 2 cups water to a full boil with ⅜ in ginger, if using, and boil 1 minute.
3 minStep 2: Turn off the heat, add 2 tsp Assam tea leaves (CTC or orthodox) and cover. Steep for 2 minutes for CTC, 3–4 for orthodox leaf, until the tea is a clear ruby red. Common mistake: boiling the leaves or brewing too long; the tea goes dark brown and bitter.
3 minStep 3: Strain into cups, stir in 2 tsp sugar and add 2 lemon slices if you like. Drink hot.
Nutrition per serving
- Calories
- 20 kcal
- Protein
- 0 g
- Carbs
- 5 g
- Fat
- 0 g
- Fibre
- 0 g
Nutrition values are estimates.
KrazyBadal
Good to know
- How long does lal sah take?
- About 7 minutes in total: 2 minutes to prepare and 5 minutes to cook.
- How many people does it serve?
- 2 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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