Adaçayı — Turkish Sage Tea

A fragrant, pale-golden sage infusion, served plain or with a little lemon. A simple Turkish herbal tea made by steeping the leaves rather than boiling them.

Serves 2 • Prep 2 minutes • Steep 5 minutes

INGREDIENTS

• 500 ml water

• 2 teaspoons dried food-grade sage leaves sold for tea

• Lemon slices and a little honey, optional

METHOD

1. Bring the water to a boil, then take it off the heat.

2. Put the sage in a warmed teapot. Pour over the hot water and cover.

3. Steep for 5 minutes. Taste, then strain out the leaves; prolonged steeping can make the infusion bitter.

4. Pour into cups. Offer lemon and honey separately.

SERVING

Serve freshly brewed, with the herbs strained out. The flavour should be aromatic and gently earthy, not harsh.

REGIONAL NOTE

Adaçayı belongs to the herbal-tea traditions of the Aegean and Mediterranean, although it is enjoyed more widely. Use a labelled tea product; different plants may share local names.

SOURCES

Brewing reference: Hayfene, “Adaçayı Nasıl Demlenir?”

https://hayfene.com/blog/adacayi-nasil-demlenir-dogru-teknikler-ve-ipuclari