Real Somali Tea Recipe

Experience the authentic taste of Somali Shaah, a beloved beverage enjoyed in homes and cafes across Somalia. This family recipe avoids unusual additions, focusing on the pure, rich flavors of ginger, cardamom, cloves, and tea. Learn how to make this aromatic and comforting tea, perfect for any occasion. Discover the secret to achieving that perfect balance of spice and sweetness!

Prep Time 5 mins
Cook Time 32 mins
Calories 3.9 kcal
Protein 0g
Rating 5.0 (1 Reviews)
Real Somali Tea 40

Recipe Actions

Share this recipe:

Recipe Author

Chef Forktionary, author of this recipe

Recipe adapted from Food.com. Standardized by Forktionary.

Ingredients for Real Somali Tea

  • 4 cups water
  • 2 teaspoons black tea leaves
  • 1-inch piece fresh ginger, peeled and crushed
  • 3 whole cloves, lightly crushed
  • 6 green cardamom pods, lightly crushed
  • 1 1-inch piece cinnamon stick
  • 1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg
  • milk, to taste
  • sugar or honey, to taste

Cook Smarter with Sous, Your Kitchen Companion

Missing an ingredient for this Real Somali Tea? Need a perfect wine pairing or a healthy side dish idea? Don't guess—ask Sous! Your AI-powered sous-chef is ready to help you swap ingredients, adjust serving sizes, and discover flavor tips in seconds.

How to Make Real Somali Tea

  1. Peel and crush a 1-inch piece of fresh ginger.
  2. Lightly crush 6 green cardamom pods and 3 whole cloves.
  3. In a medium saucepan, combine 4 cups of water, the crushed ginger, cardamom, cloves, and 2 teaspoons of black tea leaves.
  4. Bring the mixture to a boil, then reduce heat and simmer gently for 30 minutes, or until the spices have infused the tea and the liquid has reduced slightly. Stir occasionally.
  5. Remove from heat and strain the tea through a fine-mesh sieve into a serving pitcher or individual cups.
  6. Add milk to each serving cup to taste. Sweeten with sugar or honey if desired.

Nutrition Information (Approximate per serving)

Sodium

0 g

Sugar

0g

Fat

0g

Carbs

0g

Recipe Tags (Choose a tag and find related recipes!)