Uzbek Black Tea with Lemon
Freshly brewed black tea served with lemon and optional sugar.
Preparation: 5 min · Cooking: 5 min · Total: 25 min · 4 servings
Ingredients
- 4 tsp loose black tea
- 1000 ml drinking water
- 4 pc thin lemon slices, seeds removed
- 20 g granulated sugar (optional)
Instructions
Prepare the tea and lemon
Measure 4 tsp loose black tea. Rinse the lemon, cut four thin slices, and remove the seeds. Set out a heatproof teapot and four heatproof cups.
Boil the water
Bring 1000 ml drinking water to a full boil in a kettle. Turn off the heat as soon as it boils.
Steep the tea
Put the tea leaves in the heatproof teapot. Pour in the freshly boiled water, cover, and steep for 3 minutes. Taste a cooled spoonful; steep for up to 2 more minutes if you prefer stronger tea.
The tea smells fragrant and tastes balanced, not harsh.
Steep the tea: 180 seconds
Strain and sweeten if desired
Strain the tea into another heatproof vessel. Discard the leaves. If using the optional 20 g sugar, stir in 10 g first, taste, then add up to the remaining 10 g as desired.
Add lemon and serve
Pour the tea into four heatproof cups. Add one lemon slice to each cup. Let it cool for about 10 minutes, or until comfortable to sip without burning your mouth.
Tips
- Taste after 3 minutes of steeping; strain by 5 minutes to avoid an overly bitter brew.
Common mistakes
- Leaving the leaves in the tea too long can make the drink bitter.
Substitutions
- Omit the optional sugar for unsweetened tea; keep the same tea, water, and lemon quantities.
Storage
Best served freshly brewed. If saving leftovers, cool promptly, cover, refrigerate at 4°C or below, and use within 24 hours.
Reheating
Warm refrigerated tea once until steaming, without boiling; pour carefully into heatproof cups.
About this recipe
Tea is central to hospitality in Uzbekistan. This black-tea-and-lemon serving is one contemporary variation; it is not presented as the only traditional way to serve Uzbek tea.
Editorial approval does not establish independent kitchen testing. Check allergens and follow safe food handling.