How to make a fragrant tea with nigella seeds, black pepper and ginger

For a change from your usual cup, a tea of nigella seeds (kalojira) and black pepper can be made with a few things already in the kitchen. The recipe comes from Agricare24's recipe desk, which says it is taken from the daily Prothom Alo.

Ingredients: 2 teaspoons of tea leaves, half a teaspoon of nigella seeds, half a teaspoon of whole black peppercorns, a third of a teaspoon of chopped ginger, sugar or honey to taste, and 500 ml of water.

Method: bring 500 ml of water to the boil, add the nigella seeds, peppercorns and ginger and let them boil for 5 to 7 minutes, then take the pan off the heat. Put the tea leaves in a strainer over a cup and slowly pour the hot spiced water through. Stir in sugar or honey to taste and serve hot.

A few tips: adjust the amount of nigella, pepper and ginger to suit your taste and the heat you like. If using honey, add it once the drink has cooled a little. Anyone who finds pepper or ginger uncomfortable can use less.

Photo: TheGoblin / Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 3.0); nigella (kalonji) seeds

Source: Agricare24