Clove Tea: A Simple Recipe and When to Drink It

Clove tea is a warm, strongly aromatic drink that's popular on cold evenings and during the monsoon. It can be made on its own as a herbal infusion, or added to regular black tea. Either way, it takes five minutes.

Option 1: Clove infusion (no tea)

• 1½ cups water
• 3 to 4 whole cloves, lightly crushed
• Honey or jaggery to taste (optional)
• A slice of lemon (optional)

1. Bring the water and cloves to a boil.
2. Lower the heat and simmer for 5 minutes.
3. Strain into a cup. Let it cool slightly, then add honey and lemon.

Option 2: Clove black tea

• 1 cup water
• 2 cloves, lightly crushed
• 1 teaspoon black tea
• Milk and sugar (optional)

1. Boil the water with the cloves for 2 minutes.
2. Add the tea and simmer for 1 minute.
3. Add milk and sugar if you like, and bring back to a boil.
4. Strain and serve.

Good combinations

• Clove + ginger: warming, good for rainy days.
• Clove + cinnamon: sweeter and rounder.
• Clove + cardamom: fragrant, like a light masala chai.
• Clove + orange peel: a festive, Christmassy cup.

How many cloves?

Start with 2 to 3 per cup. Cloves are strong, and too many make the tea taste medicinal and numb your tongue. Crushing them lightly releases more flavour, so you'll need fewer.

When people drink it

• On cold or rainy evenings.
• After a heavy meal.
• When they have a scratchy throat. The warmth helps, and cloves have a mild numbing effect.

Cautions

• One or two cups a day is plenty. Very large amounts of clove aren't recommended.
• If you're pregnant, take blood-thinning medication, or have a liver condition, check with your doctor before drinking clove tea regularly.
• Don't give strong clove tea to young children.

Use whole, oily cloves for the best flavour. Our Adimali cloves come from Idukki. For more, read our post on the benefits of cloves.