Does anyone know how to make tea syrup.

Dear Leo -

This group is mainly occupied by passionate tea lovers and what you're describing may (in this group tradition) ironically epitomise exactly the opposite - what we would call a tea murder :) Even allowing tea to boil in general is considered to be a no-no, boiling tea down would be like burining a flag or something :) The only tradition of boiling tea for a prolonged period of time I know of is an old Russian prison tradition of making "chifir" - a very concentrated (1 glass of water per approx 3 ounces of tea) black tea boiled for several minutes into an almost untolerably bitter drink that brings a special mind-wandering and hallucinating effect. No sugar is used because sugar is currency in such places, not a tea sweetener.

However one of the principals of the tea culture is acceptance of any legal way of enjoying tea, so if you finally find the recipy (why not experimenting yourself?) please, tell us.

Sasha.

Does anyone know exactly how to make it ? If you do please email me the recipe. Thank you....Leo

When Indians, from India, cook "chai" they do boil the tea for a few minutes, often together with milk and sugar.

They use "dust tea", which is black tea ground into a fine powder.

When in India I love a glass of strong chai in the morning!

In cup; Dung Ti Oolong

Lars Stockholm

.......................................

Actually I was wrong - sugar is not used because adding even small amount of sugar can get you in trouble - from vomiting to even bigger problems with stomack pains, etc. Also eating both before and after drinking this potion is a dangerous proposition. Apparently the prison folklore believes that tea is very high in vitamins and minerals and has a very high ability to lift person's energy levels. I do not mean coffeine here during actual chifir consumtion, but rather the prolonged, metabolic effect. Many medical professionals expressed surprise observing the levels of energy of Russian prisoners compared to the caloric value of their regular diet. Most of Russian prisoners spending the majority of their incarceration doing physical work, while apparently their diet does not appear to be in sync with it.

Sasha.

"I make this iced tea syrup all the time, and it is great. I received this recipe a long time ago - from where I can't say.

Bring all ingredients to a boil in a large pot and boil for 10 minutes. Pour into a bottle and keep refrigerated. Mix 5 parts of water to one part tea syrup concentrate or to your own taste."

I think I'd throw a pinch or two of baking soda in there to cut back on the tannins that are going to come out.