• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
Proportional Plate
  • RECIPES
  • LIFESTYLE
  • DESIGN
  • ABOUT
  • SUBSCRIBE
menu icon
go to homepage
  • RECIPES
  • LIFESTYLE
  • DESIGN
  • ABOUT
  • SUBSCRIBE
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • YouTube
  • search icon
    Homepage link
    • RECIPES
    • LIFESTYLE
    • DESIGN
    • ABOUT
    • SUBSCRIBE
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • YouTube
  • ×
    Home » Recipes » Persian

    How to Brew Persian Tea

    Published: Mar 17, 2022 Modified: Mar 17, 2022 by Candice

    JUMP TO RECIPE PIN RECIPE
    Brewed tea in a glass teapot above a wood floating shelf.
    Two glasses of tea on a wood table.
    Brewed tea in a glass teapot above a wood floating shelf with title text.

    Nothing is as soothing as a cup of freshly brewed Persian tea. In my house growing up, we made it either in a samovar or with stackable tea kettles, but now this is my go-to way to make it.

    Freshly brewed tea can be enjoyed at any time, particularly to welcome guests to the house and served with sweets like this zulbia. Infused with a delicate warming cardamom flavor, I like to drink this tea sweetened with a little bit of saffron nabot, rock candy.

    This post contains affiliate links where I might receive a commission if you make a purchase, at no additional cost to you. Thanks for your support!

    Two glasses of tea on a wood table.
    TABLE OF CONTENTS hide
    1 Why this Recipe Works
    2 Ingredients & Substitutions
    3 How to Make Persian Tea
    4 FAQs
    5 Related Recipes
    6 Persian Tea

    Why this Recipe Works

    Using loose leaf tea is essential for amazing flavor. It's more aromatic, and when placed in boiling hot water the leaves infuse their flavor into the water to create a more intense and rich tea flavor than tea bags can achieve.

    Using boiling hot water to begin and leaving the tea to steep for the full five minutes is important to reach the full depth of flavor.

    Using cardamom pods in the hot water also infuses a warm, herbal flavor that couldn't be achieved otherwise. Just these two ingredients are the base for a really delicious tea.

    Ingredients & Substitutions

    Tea and cardamom pods on a countertop.

    Loose-leaf black tea - Ceylon is preferred, but Assam or Darjeeling work well, too. The loose leaf tea absorbs the hot water which infuses awesome flavor, something you cannot achieve with a tea bag.

    Cardamom pods - green is the most common cardamom pod color, which is what I use. You can't substitute these pods for powder. You can also find them on Amazon.

    Looking for a shortcut? Try these Persian tea bags infused with cardamom.

    How to Make Persian Tea

    Start with 1 tablespoon of loose-leaf black tea and crack open 2 cardamom pods by piercing them with a fork.

    Tea and cardamom in a glass teapot.

    Pop the pods and the tea into a teapot and top it off with about a cup of boiling hot water.

    Steep the tea and pods for 5 minutes.

    Pouring hot water into a glass teapot with tea.

    Next, strain out the tea and cardamom so you're left with just the steeped tea.

    Serve with a dash of rose water, and sweeten with saffron nabat if you like. You can also add a sprig of mint for a refreshing additional flavor. Sometimes, I'll enjoy it with all three.

    I like to use my prettiest glassware to really show off the amazing color of this tea!

    This post contains affiliate links where I might receive a commission if you make a purchase, at no additional cost to you. Thanks for your support!

    FAQs

    What does cardamom taste like?

    Cardamom is a spice derived from the seeds of the cardamom plant. It has a warming, herbal flavor that some describe as citrus. If you're a fan of chai and chai lattes, you'll know this flavor very well.

    When can you drink Persian tea?

    Any time! You can enjoy Persian tea any time of day. I recommend enjoying it in the late afternoon with some saffron zulbia as a treat to go with it. It does contain caffeine, so keep that in mind.

    What is nabat?

    Nabat is a kind of hard rock candy that dissolves quickly. This makes it perfect to stir into and quickly sweeten tea or pop into your mouth as you sip the unsweetened tea.

    What is a double boiler?

    A double boiler is a glass bowl that rests over a pan of boiling hot water. The steam rising from the hot water warms the ingredients inside. When making tea over a double boiler, a samovar or stackable tea kettles are usually used.

    What is rose water?

    Rosewater is a delicately flavored water made by distilling rose petals in water. It can have a strong taste, so a little bit goes a long way. I only add a small dash to my tea to enhance the flavor.

    Brewed tea in a glass teapot above a wood floating shelf.

    Related Recipes

    Serve these delicious treats with your freshly brewed Persian tea, or check out some of these Persian recipes.

    • Saffron Zoolbia
    • 3-Ingredient Pastry Flowers - Brunch & Tea
    • Cardamom Ghee Molasses Cookies
    • Matcha Shortbread Cookies Dipped in Dark Chocolate

    ★ Did you make this recipe? Please give it a star rating below!★

    I love hearing from you! You can also FOLLOW ME on INSTAGRAM, FACEBOOK, TWITTER, and PINTEREST to see more delicious food and what I’m up to.

    Brewed tea in a glass teapot above a wood floating shelf.
    Print Recipe
    5 from 1 vote

    Persian Tea

    A simple and classic Persian tea recipe infused with warming cardamom pods. Growing up I made it in a double boiler, but now this is my favorite method!
    Prep Time5 mins
    Steeping Time5 mins
    Total Time10 mins
    Course: Drinks
    Cuisine: Persian
    Diet: Gluten Free, Halal, Kosher, Vegan, Vegetarian
    Servings: 1 cup
    Calories: 13kcal
    Author: Candice

    Ingredients

    • 1 tablespoon Ceylon tea Assam or Darjeeling ok
    • 2 cardamom pods
    • 1 cup hot water

    For Serving

    • saffron nabot optional
    • rose water optional
    • sprig of mint optional

    Instructions

    • Bring water to boil.
    • In the meantime, measure 1 tablespoon of black loose leaf tea and crack open 2 cardamom pods.
    • Steep the tea and cardamom pods in 1 cup of boiling hot water for 5 minutes.
    • Strain out tea and cardamom pods.
    • Serve in a glass with optional rose water, optional mint, and optional nabot or other sweetener.

    Video

    Notes

    Traditionally this tea is made in either a samovar or with stackable tea kettles, but now this is my go-to way to make it.
    Using boiling hot water to begin and leaving the tea to steep for the full five minutes is important to reach the full depth of flavor.
    Looking for a shortcut? Try these Persian tea bags infused with cardamom.

    Nutrition

    Calories: 13kcal | Carbohydrates: 3g | Protein: 1g | Fat: 1g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 1g | Sodium: 13mg | Potassium: 50mg | Fiber: 1g | Vitamin C: 1mg | Calcium: 22mg | Iron: 1mg
    Did you try this recipe?Mention @ProportionalPlate or tag #ProportionalPlate on Instagram! I'd love to see what you're making!

    « Matcha Panna Cotta
    Slow-Cooker Passover Brisket Recipe »
    18 shares

    Reader Interactions

    Leave a Reply Cancel reply

    Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

    Recipe Rating




    Primary Sidebar

    Woman with a flower.

    Candice Walker

    On this blog, I get to share the food that I love, and get to enjoy in my own home. My heritage influences most of my recipes, and my travels inspire it. And I'm sure you'll notice my love for everything matcha. Welcome, and enjoy!

    READ MORE

    Follow

    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • YouTube

    Winter Recipes

    • Persimmon Pancakes
    • Saffron Bamieh
    • Potato Knishes
    • Matcha Lace Cookies (like Florentines)

    As Featured In

    Collage of logos.

    Fan Favorites

    • Persimmon Bread & Baking with Persimmons
    • Dalgona Matcha Latte
    • Matcha Green Tea Ice Cream
    • Quick & Easy Steak Taco Recipe

    SUBSCRIBE w/EMAIL

    6 Healthy & Plant-Centered Trends for 2020, Meal Plans, & So Much More!




    Disclosure and Privacy Policy

    Woman with a flower.

    Candice Walker

    On this blog, I get to share the food that I love, and get to enjoy in my own home. My heritage influences most of my recipes, and my travels inspire it. And I'm sure you'll notice my love for everything matcha. Welcome, and enjoy!

    READ MORE

    Follow

    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • YouTube

    Winter Recipes

    • Homemade Pita Bread
    • The Ultimate Crispy Latke Recipe
    • Irish Matcha & Baileys Irish Matcha
    • Matcha Irish Cream (Like Baileys!)

    As Featured In

    Collage of logos.

    Fan Favorites

    • Easy Homemade Gnocchi
    • Pasta Puttanesca
    • Cardamom Krumkake with Mascarpone Filling
    • Cranberry Orange Scones

    SUBSCRIBE w/EMAIL

    6 Healthy & Plant-Centered Trends for 2020, Meal Plans, & So Much More!




    Disclosure and Privacy Policy

    Footer

    ^ back to top

    About

    • About Candice
    • About Food Guilt

    Newsletter

    • Sign Up!

    Contact

    • Contact
    • Privacy Policy
    • Accessibility Policy

    As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

    Copyright © 2022 Proportional Plate LLC

    18 shares