Mint Tea Base

Ingredients

What you’ll need

• 2 tbsp Chinese Gunpowder green tea leaves
• 1 large bunch of fresh spearmint leaves (Naana)
• 1/2 cup sugar (traditional solid sugar cones or cubes)
• 4 cups boiling water

Method

How it comes together

1. 1

   Place the Gunpowder green tea leaves in a Moroccan teapot. Pour in 1/2 cup boiling water, swirl for 10 seconds, and pour out the water, reserving the tea leaves. (This is the "spirit/wash" that removes bitterness).

2. 2

   Pour 4 cups of boiling water over the washed tea leaves in the teapot.

3. 3

   Place the teapot directly on a stovetop over medium heat (approx. 200°F / 93°C) and simmer for 5 minutes.

4. 4

   Stuff the large bunch of fresh spearmint and the sugar directly into the teapot. Press down so the mint is submerged.

5. 5

   Bring to a boil once, then remove from heat. Pour the tea into a glass and return to the pot 3 times to mix the sugar. Pour from high to create foam.