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Pine nut tea
Tay bel bouphriwa: strong sweet Tunisian tea served with toasted pine nuts floating in the glass
Order tea in a Tunis café, especially in the cafés of Sidi Bou Said overlooking the bay, and it often arrives with a spoonful of pale pine nuts bobbing on top. The tea itself is brewed strong and very sweet, green with mint or dark black tea boiled until syrupy, and poured from a height into small glasses so it froths. The nuts soften slightly in the heat and you eat them at the bottom of the glass, buttery against the bitter-sweet tea. It is drunk after meals and through the evening. Chef's tip: toast the pine nuts lightly in a dry pan; just a hint of colour brings out their butteriness without making them sink.
- Total time
- 12 min
- Difficulty
- easy
- Serves
- 4
Ingredients
- 2 tbsp green gunpowder tea
- 2 ½ cups water
- 5 tbsp sugarto taste
- 1 handful fresh mint (optional)
- 1 ⅜ oz pine nuts
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Method
0/5 doneStep 1: Toast 1 ⅜ oz pine nuts in a dry pan over a low heat for 2–3 minutes, shaking often, until just tinged with gold. Tip them out at once.
3 minStep 2: Put 2 tbsp green gunpowder tea in a small metal teapot or saucepan, pour over 100 ml of the 2 ½ cups water, swirl for 10 seconds and pour it away. This rinse removes the dust and harshest bitterness.
Step 3: Add the rest of the water and 5 tbsp sugar and bring to the boil over a medium heat. Simmer for 3–4 minutes, until the tea is deep amber. A common mistake is boiling much longer; it becomes harsh rather than strong.
4 minStep 4: Add 1 handful fresh mint if using, take off the heat and leave for 1 minute, then pour into small glasses from a height to make a little foam.
1 minStep 5: Spoon 1 ⅜ oz pine nuts on top of each glass and serve straight away.
Nutrition per serving
- Calories
- 130 kcal
- Protein
- 2 g
- Carbs
- 16 g
- Fat
- 7 g
- Fibre
- 1 g
Nutrition values are estimates.
KrazyBadal
Good to know
- How long does pine nut tea take?
- About 12 minutes in total: 2 minutes to prepare and 10 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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