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Shai bil maramiya
Sage tea
Shai bil maramiya: Palestinian sweet black tea with fresh sage
Offer a guest tea in a Palestinian home and it will most likely come in small glasses, sweet, strong and fragrant with maramiya, the soft-leaved sage that grows on every terrace and is said to settle the stomach after a heavy meal. In winter the leaves are dried; in spring they are picked fresh. Common mistake: boiling the sage with the tea, which brings out a medicinal bitterness; it goes in after the heat is off. Chef's tip: bruise the sage leaves between your fingers before dropping them in, and let them steep only 2–3 minutes.
- Total time
- 8 min
- Difficulty
- easy
- Serves
- 4
Ingredients
- 3 ¼ cups water
- 2 tbsp loose black tea
- 4 tsp sugaror to taste
- 8 fresh sage leavesor 1 tbsp dried
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Method
0/3 doneStep 1: Bring 3 ¼ cups water to the boil with 4 tsp sugar in a small pot or kettle.
Step 2: Add 2 tbsp loose black tea, lower the heat and simmer for 2 minutes, until deep amber.
2 minStep 3: Take off the heat, add 8 fresh sage leaves, cover and steep for 2–3 minutes. Strain into small glasses and serve hot.
3 min
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 shai bil maramiya take?
- About 8 minutes in total: 2 minutes to prepare and 6 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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