The mint tea recipe
for your table
Pick the mint leaves from the stem and rinse them under cold water. Lightly bruise them between your hands for a pronounced flavor, or leave them whole for a milder tea.
Bring water to a boil, then let it stand for half a minute so it drops just below boiling point. At around 90 degrees, the leaves stay green instead of changing color.
Put the leaves in the glass or a jug, pour the water over them and let the tea steep for three to five minutes. Steeping it longer won’t make it stronger, but it will make the flavor flatter.
Remove the leaves, or hold them back with a small strainer while pouring. Stir in the honey or sugar and add the lemon slice.
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The story
Mint tea is the simplest hot drink there is: leaves, water, done. That is precisely why every choice matters. The mint you use determines the flavor, because peppermint is sharp and cool, while Moroccan mint is milder and sweeter. The water temperature determines the color, because boiling water draws the leaves tight and dark. And the steeping time determines whether you have a fresh tea or a flat infusion in the glass. In Morocco, fresh mint is combined with green tea and plenty of sugar; in the Netherlands, most establishments serve a glass with just a sprig of mint. Both are mint tea, and both start with a handful of fresh leaves.
The right glass
Mint tea belongs in clear glass, because the leaves and the color are half the experience. A tempered tea glass can handle freshly boiled water directly, and its slight waist gives you a cooler place to hold it. If you prefer to pour smaller servings, as with Moroccan-style tea with lots of mint and sugar, a 14 cl glass is more comfortable: it stays hotter and you refill it more often. More models can be found among the Duralex glasses.
Duralex Gigogne Tea Glass 22 cl (6 pieces)
RCR Adagio Tea Glass 14 cl (6 pieces)
Both sets together € 47,90.
The right tools
For mint tea, in addition to the glass, use a muddler to lightly bruise the leaves and a long bar spoon to stir the honey all the way to the bottom. These are the bar tools we use ourselves; you can find everything in our bar tools & cocktail sets.
Glass set (our choice 01) + 2 bar tools together € 50,85.
Which splash belongs in it?
Mint tea itself is alcohol-free. If you want to add a splash for the occasion, rum is the most obvious choice with fresh mint, while bourbon is familiar with that combination from the mint julep. On every liquor page, you can read the alcohol percentage, what it tastes like, which cocktails it pairs with and which glass you need.
Variations & twists
Stirring in a teaspoon of honey makes the tea rounder, while adding a few slices of fresh ginger makes it sharper. A slice of lemon adds freshness, and if you want it the Moroccan way, add green tea and plenty of sugar. Delicious cold too: brew the tea strong, let it cool and pour it over ice. Looking for more inspiration? Browse more than 100 cocktail recipes.
Serving tip
Brew the tea in a teapot and place it in the middle of the table, with the glasses around it. Don’t fill the glasses to the brim, so you can hold them at the top. Hold back the leaves when pouring with a strainer from the tea strainers.
Good to know
Which mint will you choose?
Peppermint is sharp and cooling and quickly dominates, so you need less of it. Moroccan mint is milder and sweeter and can go into the glass in a generous bunch. Both are fresh mint; the choice mainly determines how pronounced the tea will be.
Crush or leave whole?
Crushing breaks the leaves and releases the flavor more quickly, but it also makes the tea coarser. If you leave the leaves whole, the flavor is released more slowly and remains more delicate. Lightly rub the leaves between your hands if you want something in between.
How hot should the water be?
Let boiling water sit for half a minute, bringing it to around 90 degrees. That’s hot enough to extract the flavor, but not so hot that the leaves discolor and the tea turns gray.
Fresh mint or a tea bag?
Fresh leaves produce a clear tea with a light color, and you can see exactly what’s in the glass. A mint tea bag contains dried, finely ground mint and produces a darker infusion with a flatter flavor. One bunch of fresh mint makes a whole pot, so you don’t need much.
Does it contain caffeine?
Mint tea made only with fresh mint and water contains no caffeine. Add green or black tea, as in Moroccan-style tea, and it does.
Frequently asked questions
Which mint do you use for mint tea?
Peppermint for a sharp, cooling tea and Moroccan mint for a milder, sweeter one. You need less peppermint, while you can use a generous bunch of Moroccan mint.
How hot should the water be for mint tea?
Around 90 degrees, just below boiling point. Let boiled water sit for half a minute first; that way the leaves stay green.
How long should you steep mint tea?
Three to five minutes. Steeping it longer won’t make the tea stronger, only flatter in flavor, so remove the leaves afterward.
Does mint tea contain caffeine?
No, not if you only use fresh mint and water. If you make it Moroccan-style with green tea, it does contain caffeine.
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