Sulaimani Tea Recipe (Kerala-Style Chai Without Milk)

three glasses filled with sulaimani chai on a cream background. Sulaimani Tea Recipe (Kerala-Style Chai Without Milk)

Sulaimani Tea, also referred to as Sulaimani Chai, is a light-weight black tea brewed with entire spices, gently sweetened, and completed with a splash of lemon. This clear, spiced tea is well-liked in Kerala and Hyderabadi traditions, usually loved after meals to assist digestion and cleanse the palate. In this straightforward recipe, I’ll present you learn how to make a very good cup of Sulaimani utilizing easy components like black tea, cardamom, cloves, cinnamon, and lemon. You also can add contemporary mint leaves for a cooling contact.

three glasses filled with sulaimani chai on a cream background.

What Makes Sulaimani Tea Unique

Sulaimani Tea is a transparent, gently spiced black tea made with out milk. It is often brewed utilizing sturdy CTC or mud tea and infused with entire spices like cardamom, cinnamon, and cloves.

A little bit of sugar is often added to evenly sweeten the brew. Just earlier than serving, a touch of lemon juice is stirred in, including a delicate tang that balances the sweetness and heat of the spices.

Sulaimani Tea has its roots in Arab traditions and was dropped at Kerala’s Malabar area via centuries of commerce with Arab merchants.

Over time, it grew to become deeply woven into the culinary traditions of the Malabar Muslim group and later discovered a spot in Hyderabadi delicacies as properly.

I first had Sulaimani Tea throughout my travels in Kerala and immediately took a liking to it. Alongside Kashmiri Kahwait stays one in every of my favourite clear teas – mild, comforting, and ideally suited after a wealthy or heavy meal.

At dwelling, I often put together Sulaimani utilizing Assam tea powder or a powerful mix of CTC and lengthy leaf tea, like the sort generally accessible from Indian manufacturers.

For a lighter model, you should utilize Green Tea as a substitute of black tea. It provides a extra delicate taste whereas nonetheless pairing properly with the spices and lemon.

I pair it with entire spices resembling cardamom, cloves, and cinnamon, together with uncooked sugar, lemon juice, and contemporary mint leaves. The stability of heat spices, mild sweetness, and vibrant lemon makes it particularly soothing.

Sulaimani remains to be extensively ready in the present day, usually brewed with care to welcome friends or served after festive meals like The same. Its delicate spices and light-weight consistency make it soothing and simple on the abdomen.

Each dwelling brings its personal contact to the recipe. Some embody ginger for additional heat, others add contemporary mint for a cooling be aware, and some might use saffron for aroma.

But the essence of Sulaimani stays the identical: a easy, spiced tea with a long-standing cultural and culinary presence.

If you get pleasure from spiced or natural teas, you may also like:

  • Masala Chai – Strong Indian milk tea brewed with warming spices.
  • Adrak Chai (Ginger Tea) – Bold and invigorating, nice for chilly days or sore throats.
  • Herbal Tea – A milk-based tea made with Assam tea, herbs, and spices. Comforting and evenly spiced.
  • Turmeric Tea – Known for its anti-inflammatory advantages and earthy taste.
  • Like tea – A refreshing chai made with contemporary mint leaves, Assam tea, and milk – soothing and good for digestion.

Step-by-Step Guide

How to Make Sulaimani Tea

Crush Spices

1. Peel and rinse 1 inch piece ginger. Take the entire spices listed beneath and the ginger piece in a mortar:

  • 2 inexperienced cardamom pods
  • 2 cloves
  • ½ inch cinnamon stick
ginger and whole spices added to mortar.

2. Crush all of the spices and ginger evenly with the pestle.

ginger and whole spices crushed in the mortar.

Boil Water With Spices

3. In a saucepan, add 2 cups water. Add the crushed entire spices and ginger.

crushed whole spices and ginger added to water in a saucepan.

4. Bring water to a boil on medium warmth. Reduce the warmth barely and let the spices simmer for 4 to five minutes. This helps the water soak up the flavors of the spices.

crushed whole spices and ginger boiling in water.

Make snailing of

5. Add 1 teaspoon black tea powder or 1 tea bag. For a stronger tea, add 1½ teaspoons of tea powder.

adding black tea powder to boiling water to make sulaimani chai.

6. Simmer for two to three minutes or till the colour deepens and darkens to a darkish orange or reddish shade. Do not over-boil the tea as it might make it bitter.

If utilizing tea leaves, flip off warmth, add the tea leaves and stir. Cover with a lid and steep tea for two to three minutes.

simmering sulaimani tea mixture.

7. Next, add 8 teaspoons sugar or as per your style. Stir properly in order that the sugar dissolves utterly.

they are in the door.

8. Switch off the warmth. Add 1 teaspoon lemon juice. Mix and stir to mix.

If you want extra tanginess, you’ll be able to add a bit of extra.

adding lemon juice to sulaimani tea.

9. Additionally, add 8 to 10 contemporary mint leaves (non-obligatory). Stir gently.

Cover the pan with a lid and let the tea sit for a minute to permit the flavors of the mint leaves to infuse and mix.

mint leaves added to sulaimani chai.

10. Strain the Sulaimani Chai into cups or glasses.

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11. Serve Sulaimani Tea sizzling. Enjoy this mild, fragrant tea after your meals or everytime you want a soothing drink.

overhead shot of three glasses filled with sulaimani tea on a blue decorative tray.

Serving Suggestions

Savor Sulaimani Tea heat after indulgent meals like biryani, wealthy curries or festive thalis. It’s the proper approach to assist digestion and soothe the abdomen.

You also can pair it with easy bites like dates, roasted nuts or crisp savory biscuits for a light-weight and satisfying deal with.

On hotter days, chill the brewed Sulaimani Chai and pour it over ice for a refreshing twist – or strive my Iced Tea recipe for a basic model made with black tea and lemon.

Exppea tip

  1. Tea leaves: Use good-quality unfastened black tea like Assam for a powerful brew. For a lighter taste, Darjeeling is an efficient choice.
  2. Tea power: Adjust the quantity of tea leaves primarily based on how sturdy or delicate you want your tea.
  3. Fresh spices: Whole spices give the very best taste. You also can add star anise or fennel seeds sometimes, relying on the season or your private style.
  4. Sweeteners: Instead of refined sugar, you should utilize jaggery or palm sugar for a deeper, extra rounded sweetness.
  5. Mint freshness: Fresh mint is non-obligatory, but it surely provides a light-weight, cooling taste that pairs properly with the spices.
  6. Lemon tip: Always add the lemon juice after turning off the warmth to keep away from bitterness and maintain the flavour contemporary.

FAQs

Can I take advantage of tea baggage as a substitute of tea powder?

Absolutely! For this recipe, one black tea bag works simply as properly rather than the tea powder.

Can I skip the sugar?

Of course! If you favor your tea unsweetened or are watching your sugar consumption, you’ll be able to merely depart it out or use a pure sweetener.

Can I add additional spices?

Definitely! Feel free to get inventive – a touch of star anise or a number of saffron strands could make your Sulaimani much more aromatic and particular.

Can Sulaimani Tea be made upfront?

Yes, you’ll be able to brew it forward of time and retailer it within the fridge for as much as a day. When able to serve, you’ll be able to gently reheat it or get pleasure from it chilly.

Why does my Sulaimani Chai style bitter?

Bitterness often occurs if the tea is over-brewed or if lemon juice is added whereas the tea remains to be boiling. To keep away from this, simmer the tea gently for simply 2 to three minutes and at all times add the lemon after you flip off the warmth.

If you’ve tried this recipe, please charge it within the recipe card or depart a remark beneath – I’d love to listen to your suggestions. For extra vegetarian inspiration, sign up for my email updates or comply with me on Instagram, Youtube, Facebook, Pinterest or X.

three glasses filled with sulaimani tea on a blue decorative tray.

Steamian crew relicpe

Sulaimani Tea is a light-weight, fragrant clear black tea made with out milk and infused with spices like cardamom, cloves, cinnamon and ginger. A splash of lemon provides a refreshing tang, making it excellent after meals or anytime you desire a soothing, flavorful tea. Believed to have Arab origins, this tea is well-liked in Kerala and Hyderabad.

Prep Time 5 minutes

Cook Time 10 minutes

Total Time 15 minutes

Prevent your display screen from going darkish whereas making the recipe

Crush Spices & Ginger

  • Lightly crush the inexperienced cardamom pods, cloves, cinnamon stick, and ginger in a mortar-pestle.

Boil Water with Spices

  • In a saucepan, add water together with the crushed spices and ginger.

  • Bring to a boil on medium warmth. Then simmer for 4 to five minutes so the flavors of the spices infuse into the water.

Make snailing of

  • Add black tea powder or use tea baggage.If utilizing unfastened tea leaves, flip off the warmth and add the tea leaves. Mix, cowl pan with a lid and steep for two to three minutes.
  • After including the black tea powder, simmer for two to three minutes till the tea coloration deepens. Avoid over-boiling to forestall bitterness.

  • Next add sugar and stir properly till dissolved. Turn off warmth.

  • Add lemon juice and gently stir. Add contemporary mint leaves if utilizing. Cover with a lid and let the tea relaxation for a minute.

  • Strain the tea into cups or glasses and serve sizzling.

Serving Suggestions

  • Serve Sulaimani Chai sizzling after heavy meals like biryani, curry meals, or festive thalis.

  • You also can get pleasure from it with snacks like dates, nuts, or savory biscuits.

  • For a refreshing iced model, refrigerate the brewed tea and serve it chilled over ice.

  1. Adjust the quantity of tea leaves for a stronger or lighter tea.
  2. Always add lemon juice after switching off the warmth to keep away from bitterness.
  3. Fresh mint leaves give a cooling, refreshing contact however are non-obligatory.
  4. Use jaggery or palm sugar as a more healthy various to common sugar.
  5. Do not over-steep the tea, or it could flip overly sturdy or bitter.

Nutrition Facts

Steamian crew relicpe

Amount Per Serving

Calories 75 Calories from Fat 3

% Daily Value*

Fat 0.3g0%

Saturated Fat 0.04g0%

Polyunsaturated Fat 0.1g

Monounsaturated Fat 0.03g

Sodium 15mg1%

Potassium 67mg2%

Carbohydrates 19g6%

Fiber 1g4%

Sugar 16g18%

Protein 0.5g1%

Vitamin A 1713%

Vitamin B1 (Thiamine) 0.01mg1%

Vitamin B2 (Riboflavin) 0.02mg1%

Vitamin B3 (Niac) 0.1mg1%

Vitamin B6 0.01mg1%

Vitamin C 3mg4%

Vitamin e 0.04mg0%

Vitamin Okay 0.4µg0%

Calcium 29mg3%

Vitamin B9 (Folate) 6µg2%

Iron 1mg6%

Magnesium 13mg3%

Phosphorus 8mg1%

Zinc 0.2mg1%

* Percent Daily Values are primarily based on a 2000 calorie eating regimen.

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