Japanese Homemade Black Tea

While Japan is more commonly associated with green tea, black tea is also enjoyed in the country.

Ingredients:

• 1 tablespoon loose black tea leaves (Assam, Darjeeling, or your preferred variety)
• 2 cups water
• Sugar or honey (optional, for sweetening)
• Lemon slices (optional, for flavor)

Instructions:

1. Bring 2 cups of water to a boil in a pot or kettle.
2. Once the water reaches a rolling boil, remove it from heat and let it cool for about 1 minute.
3. Add the black tea leaves to a teapot or a heat-resistant container.
4. Pour the hot water over the tea leaves, ensuring they are fully submerged.
5. Cover the teapot or container and let the tea steep for about 3-5 minutes, depending on your desired strength. Adjust the steeping time to your preference.
6. After the desired steeping time, strain the tea to separate the leaves from the liquid. You can use a tea strainer or fine-mesh sieve.
7. If desired, add sugar or honey to sweeten the tea. Stir well until the sweetener dissolves.
8. Serve the Japanese-style black tea hot in teacups or mugs.
9. Optionally, garnish the tea with a slice of lemon for added flavor.
10. Enjoy your homemade Japanese-style black tea!

Note: Feel free to adjust the amount of tea leaves and steeping time to suit your taste preferences. Some people prefer a stronger tea by increasing the amount of tea leaves or steeping for a longer period. Similarly, you can decrease the strength by using fewer tea leaves or shortening the steeping time. Experiment to find the balance that suits your taste.