Green Tea with Fresh Mint and Lemon
Fragrant green tea with fresh mint and lemon, and the secrets of brewing Central Asia’s favourite drink.
In Uzbekistan tea is more than a drink; it is a symbol of hospitality. Guests are offered tea first, and conversation flows around the tea bowls. On hot days, green tea is wonderfully refreshing.
For great tea
- Quality loose-leaf tea: tea bags can’t match the flavour.
- The right temperature: 80–85°C.
- Qaytarish: pouring a bowl of tea back into the pot three times.
Nutrition
Per serving (≈ 250 g). Approximate values.
How to make it
4 steps · start a timer right inside a step
Warm the pot
Rinse the teapot with boiling water to warm it. Boil the water and let it cool for 2–3 minutes; 80–85°C is ideal for green tea, as boiling water makes it bitter.
Brew
Put the tea and mint leaves in the pot and pour over the water. Brew for 3–4 minutes. The Uzbek way: pour out a bowl of tea and return it to the pot three times. This custom, called qaytarish, brews the tea evenly.
Add lemon
Slice the lemon into thin rounds. Add one to each bowl or glass rather than the pot, or the peel will make the tea bitter.
Serve
Fill the bowls just over halfway; in Uzbek custom a full bowl hints that the guest should leave. Serve honey or nabat on the side.
Cook’s tips
- 1Don’t over-steep; after five minutes it turns bitter.
- 2The same leaves can be re-infused two or three times.
- 3Basil or lemon balm work in place of mint.
- 4Add the mint sprigs after the tea has finished steeping to prevent the leaves from cooking and losing their bright, fresh color.
Serving & storage: Present this in clear glass mugs to showcase the vibrant green hue and serve alongside shortbread cookies or honey-soaked nuts. Store leftovers in a sealed glass container in the refrigerator for up to 24 hours, reheating gently on the stove without letting it reach a boil.
Iced version
In summer, chill the brewed tea and serve over ice with lemon and honey for a natural, lightly sweetened iced tea.
The takeaway
A pot of green tea is the calmest moment of the day. Brew it with friends, after plov or just for yourself.
