Little Hen House Tea Recipe

Boil water

Bring 4 cups of fresh water to a rolling boil in a kettle or saucepan.

Add tea bags

Place 2 black tea bags into a heatproof teapot or heatproof pitcher.

Steep

Pour the boiling water over the tea bags. Let steep 4 minutes for a medium strength. If you prefer stronger tea, steep up to 5 minutes; for lighter, 2–3 minutes. Remove and discard tea bags after steeping.

While the tea steeps, gently bruise 12 fresh mint leaves by clapping them between your palms or crushing lightly with a spoon — this releases essential oils without turning them bitter.

Add the bruised mint leaves and 4 lemon slices to the teapot/pitcher with the hot brewed tea. Let the mint and lemon infuse for 3–5 minutes while the tea cools slightly so flavors meld.

After infusion, stir in 2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice to add brightness and adjust acidity.

While the tea is still warm (not boiling), stir in 3 tablespoons honey until fully dissolved. Taste and add more honey if you prefer sweeter — start with 1 tablespoon increments.

Strain the tea through a fine mesh sieve into a clean pitcher to remove mint leaves and lemon slices if you prefer a clear tea. If you like leaves and slices in the cup, you may leave them in.

For hot tea: Pour into warmed cups. Garnish each cup with an extra mint sprig and a lemon wheel.

For iced tea: Let the finished tea cool to room temperature (about 20–30 minutes), then refrigerate until cold or pour over a pitcher filled with 2 cups of ice. Stir once and garnish with mint sprigs and lemon wheels.

Adjust final taste: offer additional honey and lemon on the side for guests to sweeten or brighten to taste.