How to Make Sumac Tea
Tart and citrusy, this Sumac Tea recipe bursts with a bright lemon flavor that can perk any day. It’s a great caffeine-free choice all year round, and really shines during the warm late summer and crisp early fall days. Whether you’re looking to comfort a sore throat or just want to sip on something a bit different, brewing up a cup of sumac tea is a simple and tasty way to sip the afternoon away!
This post originally appeared on my food blog, Make Healthy Recipes on October 3rd, 2021.
I love drinking sumac tea, especially on cool fall mornings when the weather starts to turn, or during the warm afternoons in late August. The tea has a sour, lemony taste that wakes up my taste buds and makes me feel refreshed, whether it’s iced or hot tea. I love that it doesn’t have caffeine, so it perks me up without making me feel jittery. Whether I’m relaxing in my garden or need something soothing for a sore throat, sumac tea is my go-to. It’s both tasty and good for me, which makes it a perfect choice any day.
What is sumac?
Sumac is a versatile spice derived from the dried and ground berries of the Rhus genus, which includes several species native to North America and the Middle East. The spice is renowned for its vivid red color and tangy, lemon-like flavor, making it a popular addition to many culinary traditions, particularly in Middle Eastern cuisine.
The sumac plant itself is a small tree or shrub, which blossoms with dense clusters of bright red berries late in the summer. These ripe berry clusters are harvested, dried, and ground to create the sumac spice used in cooking and tea making. Beyond its culinary uses, sumac also offers a range of health benefits; it’s rich in antioxidants, vitamin C, and can help manage blood sugar levels.
Edible sumac should not be confused with poison sumac berries, which are toxic and have white berries. Edible varieties, such as staghorn sumac (rhus typhina) and smooth sumac (rhus glabra), are safe and a beneficial choice. Whether used to add zest to dishes, as a key ingredient in sumac tea, or even in decorative arrangements due to its striking appearance, sumac is truly a remarkable and multi-faceted plant.
Why you’ll love this recipe
- Refreshing Taste: The natural tanginess of sumac offers a refreshing twist, perfect for cooling down on a hot day or warming up on a chilly evening.
- Health Benefits: Rich in vitamin C and antioxidants, sumac tea can help boost your immune system and manage inflammation.
- Versatility: Enjoy it hot to soothe a sore throat or chilled as a sumac lemonade during summer.
- Easy to Make: With minimal ingredients and a simple process, this tea is both easy and quick to make, even on busy days.
Key ingredients and substitutions
- Ground Sumac: The star of the recipe, ground sumac brings a sour, tangy flavor that’s crucial for the unique taste of this tea. There is no substitute here.
- Water: The base of any tea, use filtered water for the best-tasting brew.
- Honey or Sweetener of Choice: Optional, but adding a little sweetness balances the tanginess of the sumac. Honey works well, but you can also use maple syrup or a sugar substitute for a different flavor profile or dietary needs.
How to make sumac tea
- Boil water: Start by bringing water to a boil using either an electric kettle or in a pot on the stovetop. Once it’s boiled, let it sit for about a minute before using.
- Prepare the sumac: Place ground sumac into a tea bag or fine mesh tea ball, and place it in a mug (see below for the French press option).
- Steep: Put the tea bag into your mug and pour the hot water over it.
- Steeping Time: Let the sumac steep for about 4 minutes to fully extract its flavors.
- Sweeten to Taste: After steeping, remove the tea bag and stir in honey or your choice of sweetener if desired. Adjust the amount to suit your taste.
- Serve: Enjoy your sumac tea hot, or let it cool down to room temperature and refrigerate for a refreshing cold drink.
Recipe notes and tips
- Tea Bag Choice: Using a reusable, organic cotton tea bag not only helps the environment but also allows for the best flavor release from the sumac. You could also use a coffee filter to steep and then strain the tea, or strain it over a cheese cloth.
- Steeping Time: Four minutes is ideal for a balanced flavor, but you can adjust this time depending on how strong you like your tea.
- Water Temperature: For the best extraction of sumac’s flavors, use boiling water but let it sit for a minute before pouring to avoid overheating the sumac, which can release bitter flavors.
- Sweeteners: If adding honey, make sure the tea is not too hot to preserve the natural benefits of the honey. For vegan options, maple syrup, agave syrup, or simple syrup are great alternatives. If I’m in a hurry, I just add a couple of drops of liquid stevia.
- Cold Brew Option: Instead of steeping in hot water, you can steep ground sumac in cold water overnight in the refrigerator for a smoother taste.
- Don’t Add Milk: Avoid adding milk to sumac tea as the acidity can cause the milk to curdle.
- Make It a Lemonade: For another option, triple the amount of sumac tea, cool it to room temperature, and then chill it in the fridge. Serve with ice for a refreshing sumac lemonade.
Variations
- Spiced Sumac Tea: Add a cinnamon stick or a few cloves during the steeping process for a warm, spiced version of this tea.
- Sumac and Mint: Include fresh mint leaves or a hint of mint extract to introduce a refreshing, cool taste to your sumac tea. This is great over ice!
- Berry Sumac Tea: Mix in some crushed raspberries or blackberries for a fruity variation. Be sure to strain it well.
- Ginger Sumac Tea: Add a few slices of fresh ginger while boiling the water for a zesty, invigorating flavor.
- Iced Sumac Tea: Brew your sumac tea stronger than usual, cool it down, and serve over ice for a refreshing summer drink.
- Herbal Blend: Combine sumac with other dried herbs like chamomile or lavender for a relaxing herbal tea blend.
How to store leftovers
- Refrigeration: Keep leftover sumac tea in a sealed container (like a jar) or pitcher in the refrigerator. It stays fresh and tasty for up to 5 days.
- Room Temperature: If you plan to consume the tea within the same day, it can be kept at room temperature. Make sure it’s covered to keep out dust and insects.
- Freezing: For longer storage, freeze the tea in ice cube trays. Once frozen, transfer the cubes to a freezer bag. Use them later as ice cubes in drinks or thaw to enjoy a cup of sumac tea.
- Reheating: If you prefer your tea warm, reheat it gently on the stove or in the microwave. Just be sure not to boil it, as this can alter the flavor.
Frequently asked questions
Yes, you can use fresh sumac berries. Just make sure they are from an edible variety, not poison sumac. Crush the berries lightly before steeping to release more flavor.
Most people can enjoy sumac tea safely. However, if you have allergies to other plants in the cashew family, like mango or pistachio, you might also react to sumac. Always try a small amount first if you’re unsure.
For a stronger tea, increase the steeping time or add more sumac. For a milder flavor, decrease the amount of sumac or steep it for a shorter time.
No, sumac tea is naturally caffeine-free, making it a great choice for those looking to reduce their caffeine intake or enjoy a soothing drink before bedtime.
Where can I buy sumac from?
IMPORTANT: When buying sumac, double-check the ingredients. It often contains salt and additives which we don’t want for tea. Just plain, ground sumac.
In the UK, I first found sumac at Tesco and then Morrisons, but now buy it in bulk from buywholefoodsonline.co.uk.
However, Amazon UK, Amazon USA and Amazon Canada have several decent ground sumac products. The easy way to see all of your available options online would be to do a quick google search, e.g. “buy ground sumac <insert country name here>“.
More recipes you will love
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Sumac Tea Recipe
Ingredients
- 1 tsp ground sumac
- 250 ml water or as much as your mug will hold
- 2 tsp honey or sweetener of choice optional
Instructions
- Begin to boil water (either in a kettle or on the stove). Once the water has boiled, let it cool for a minute while you prepare the sumac.250 ml water
- Add the sumac to a tea bag or fine mesh tea ball, and place it in a mug.1 tsp ground sumac
- Pour the hot water over the tea bag in the mug.
- Allow the sumac to steep for 4 minutes.
- After steeping, remove the tea bag and stir in honey or your choice of sweetener if desired. Adjust the amount to suit your taste.2 tsp honey or sweetener of choice
- Enjoy your sumac tea hot, or let it cool down to room temperature and refrigerate for a refreshing cold drink.
Video
Notes
- Tea Bag Choice: Using a reusable, organic cotton tea bag not only helps the environment but also allows for the best flavor release from the sumac. You could also use a coffee filter to steep and then strain the tea, or strain it over a cheese cloth.
- Steeping Time: Four minutes is ideal for a balanced flavor, but you can adjust this time depending on how strong you like your tea.
- Water Temperature: For the best extraction of sumac’s flavors, use boiling water but let it sit for a minute before pouring to avoid overheating the sumac, which can release bitter flavors.
- Sweeteners: If adding honey, make sure the tea is not too hot to preserve the natural benefits of the honey. For vegan options, maple syrup, agave syrup, or simple syrup are great alternatives. If I’m in a hurry, I just add a couple of drops of liquid stevia.
- Cold Brew Option: Instead of steeping in hot water, you can steep ground sumac in cold water overnight in the refrigerator for a smoother taste.
- Don’t Add Milk: Avoid adding milk to sumac tea as the acidity can cause the milk to curdle.
- Make It a Lemonade: For another option, triple the amount of sumac tea, cool it to room temperature, and then chill it in the fridge. Serve with ice for a refreshing sumac lemonade.
Storage and Reheating Instructions
- Refrigeration: Keep leftover sumac tea in a sealed container (like a jar) or pitcher in the refrigerator. It stays fresh and tasty for up to 5 days.
- Room Temperature: If you plan to consume the tea within the same day, it can be kept at room temperature. Make sure it’s covered to keep out dust and insects.
- Freezing: For longer storage, freeze the tea in ice cube trays. Once frozen, transfer the cubes to a freezer bag. Use them later as ice cubes in drinks or thaw to enjoy a cup of sumac tea.
- Reheating: If you prefer your tea warm, reheat it gently on the stove or in the microwave. Just be sure not to boil it, as this can alter the flavor.
This tasted like lemon tea! So good! Thanks for the idea.