Serves 4

The Turkish are known primarily for their thick, murky and phenomenally strong coffee, however they are also a nation of passionate tea drinkers. Everything from a business deal to a gossipy lunch is closed with at least one if not several glasses of sugary Turkish tea.

I discovered this alternative to the usual Turkish tea last year in a café in Istanbul and was intrigued by the idea of using sage in tea. In Istanbul, it is usually made with dried wild sage that comes from the mountainous areas of the country, however it is equally delicious made with fresh sage.

Ingredients

1 litre of boiling water
8 stalks of fresh sage
Honey to taste

Instructions

Using the flat side of a knife, bash the sage a few times to bruise it a little to release the fragrance.

Place the sage and boiling water in a teapot and leave to infuse for 5 minutes. Add a few spoonfuls of honey, stirring well until it dissolves. Pour into warmed glasses or mugs and serve.