Clove tea

Ingredients

Primary Ingredients

• Whole Cloves ( Laung ): 6 to 8 whole dried cloves
• Filtered Water: 2.5 cups (approx. 600 ml)
• Raw Honey or Maple Syrup: 1 to 2 teaspoons (optional, to taste)
• Fresh Lemon Juice: 1 teaspoon (optional, for brightness)

Optional Flavor Enhancers

• Cinnamon Stick: 1 small Ceylon cinnamon stick (adds warm sweetness)
• Fresh Ginger: 1/2 inch slice, gently crushed (adds a pleasant zesty kick)
• Green Cardamom Pod: 1 pod, lightly cracked (adds floral aromatic complexity)

Instructions

Detailed Process

1. Prepare the Cloves (2 minutes): Place 6 to 8 whole cloves into a mortar and pestle. Press down firmly to coarsely crack the outer heads and stems. Tip: Cracking the outer shell exposes the inner oils directly to boiling water, yielding a richer flavor in half the time. Do not use pre-ground clove powder for whole-leaf style tea, as ground clove turns cloudy and sludgy.
2. Boil Water (3 minutes — High Intensity): Set a stainless steel or glass saucepot over High Heat . Add 2.5 cups of cold filtered water. Bring the water to a full, rolling boil.
3. Simmer the Infusion (5 minutes — Low Intensity): Reduce the stovetop heat to Low Heat (gentle simmer). Add the crushed cloves along with optional whole spices (ginger or cinnamon stick). Cover the pot tightly with a lid to prevent the volatile aromatic oils from escaping through steam. Simmer covered for exactly 5 minutes.
4. Steep Off Heat (5 minutes — Off / Zero Heat): Turn off the stove burner completely. Move the covered pot to a cool burner. Allow the tea to sit undisturbed for 5 minutes. The tea will turn from a light golden tint to a deep, amber-brown mahogany tone.
5. Strain and Sweeten (1 minute): Remove the lid. Pour the hot infusion through a fine mesh wire strainer directly into two mug cups. Stir in raw honey, maple syrup, or a squeeze of fresh lemon juice according to personal taste preference. Serve immediately.

Nutrition

Calories: 5 kcal < 1% · Protein: 0.1 g 0% · Fat: 0.1 g 0% · Carbohydrates: 1.1 g < 1% Dietary · Saturated Fat: 0.0 g 0% · Fiber: 0.4 g 1% · Sugar: 0.1 g — · Sodium: 5 mg 0%