Hanh Koni Bhurji with Assamese Red Tea

Ingredients

• 1100 ml Water (About 4.5 cups)
• 4 tsp Assam Tea Leaves (Use loose leaf for best results)
• 1 inch Ginger (Peeled and lightly crushed)
• 2 pcs Bay Leaf (Small to medium size)
• 1.5 tbsp Sugar (Adjust to your preferred sweetness)
• 2 tbsp Lemon Juice (Freshly squeezed)

Instructions

1. 1

   Infuse the Water

   • In a medium saucepan, combine the water, crushed ginger, and bay leaves.
   • Place the saucepan over medium-high heat and bring the mixture to a rolling boil.
2. 2

   Simmer the Aromatics

   • Once boiling, reduce the heat to low and let the water simmer gently for 3-4 minutes.
   • This step is crucial for extracting the full flavor from the ginger and bay leaves.
3. 3

   Steep the Tea

   • Turn off the heat completely. Add the Assam tea leaves to the hot water.
   • Cover the saucepan with a lid and let the tea steep for 3-5 minutes. For a lighter tea, steep for 3 minutes; for a stronger brew, steep for 5 minutes. Do not boil the tea leaves as this will make the tea bitter.
4. 4

   Strain and Serve

   • Using a fine-mesh tea strainer, carefully pour the prepared tea into four serving cups.
   • Discard the steeped tea leaves, ginger, and bay leaves.
5. 5

   Sweeten and Finish

   • Add sugar and freshly squeezed lemon juice to each cup according to taste.
   • Stir well until the sugar is completely dissolved. Serve immediately while hot.