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Masuri tey (rosehip tea)
Մասուրի թեյ: dried wild rosehips simmered into a tart, ruby-red winter tea, softened with mountain honey
Each October, Armenian families walk the hillsides around Dilijan, Tavush and Syunik picking the bright red hips of wild dog roses, then string or spread them to dry on balconies. Through the long winter they go into masuri tey, often made in a big pot in the evening and kept warm in a thermos for the next day, and it is the drink grandmothers press on anyone with a cold, alongside a spoon of homemade jam. It is fruity and tart, like hibiscus crossed with apple, with a gentle tea-like body, and a spoon of honey rounds it out. The common mistake is not straining it well enough: crushed rosehips are lined with tiny irritating hairs that scratch the throat. Strain through a fine sieve lined with a cloth or coffee filter. It is ready when the tea is deep orange-red and clearly sour, and the hips have swollen and softened. Simmer gently rather than boiling hard for long. Honey keeps this out of the vegan list; use sugar if you prefer. Not suitable as a sweetened drink for babies under one year because of the honey. Chef's tip: steep it overnight in a thermos after simmering; the flavour doubles.
- Total time
- 30 min
- Difficulty
- easy
- Serves
- 4
Ingredients
- 1 ⅜ oz dried rosehipswhole or halved
- 4 ¼ cups water
- 3 tbsp honeyor sugar to keep it vegan
- 4 lemon slices (optional)
- 1 cinnamon stick (optional)
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Method
0/5 doneStep 1: Rinse the 1 ⅜ oz dried rosehips, then crush them lightly in a mortar or in a bag with a rolling pin so each hip is cracked.
3 minStep 2: Bring the 4 ¼ cups water to the boil in a pot, add the rosehips and 1 cinnamon stick, reduce the heat and simmer gently, covered, for 10 minutes until the water turns orange-red.
12 minStep 3: Turn off the heat and leave to steep, covered, for 15 minutes (or overnight in a thermos for a stronger tea) until it is deep ruby and tastes clearly tart.
15 minStep 4: Strain through a sieve lined with a clean cloth or coffee filter to catch all the fine hairs.
2 minStep 5: Reheat gently if needed, stir in 3 tbsp honey once it is below boiling and serve in glasses with 4 lemon slices.
1 min
Nutrition per serving
- Calories
- 55 kcal
- Protein
- 0 g
- Carbs
- 14 g
- Fat
- 0 g
- Fibre
- 1 g
Nutrition values are estimates.
KrazyBadal
Good to know
- How long does masuri tey (rosehip tea) take?
- About 30 minutes in total: 5 minutes to prepare and 25 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 vegetarian?
- Yes. It has no meat or fish.
- 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 honey?
- Maple syrup or golden syrup, same amount.
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