Nepali Herbal Tea

Name: Nepali Herbal Tea (Sittal Chiya)
Yield: Makes 6 servings
Cuisine: Nepali
Ingredients: 2 tablespoons fresh lemon or lime juice; 2 small cassia leaves; 1 teaspoon dried goddess basil leaves (tulasi); 2 tablespoons fresh lemon or lime juice; ¼ cup sugar, or to taste; 1 (¼-inch) piece fresh ginger, peeled and halved; 4 green cardamom pods, crushed; 2 black cardamom pods, crushed; 1 teaspoon whole cloves; 3 tablespoons dried green gooseberries (amalaa); 1 (1-inch) cinnamon stick

Sittal Chiya

Preparation info

Makes
6
servings

Difficulty
Easy

Appears in

Food and Flavours from Nepal

By Jyoti Pathak

Published 2023

About

This relaxing, easy-to-make herbal tea is prepared with several whole spices, dried gooseberries, and goddess basil leaves. I usually prepare a large pot of this tea and drink it throughout the day. Most of the ingredients are readily available through mail order online or at local Nepali markets or Indian grocery stores.

Ingredients

3 tablespoons dried green gooseberries (amalaa)
1 (1-inch) cinnamon stick

Asia
Nepal
Summer
Gluten-free
Vegan
Drinks

Method

In a large saucepan, combine 8 cups of water, the gooseberries, cinnamon stick, ginger, green and black cardamom pods, cloves, basil, and cassia leaves and bring them to a rapid boil over medium-high heat. Reduce the heat to low and simmer until the flavors of the spices are released, about 25 minutes.