For this delicious cuppa, you’ll need some dried mountain tea, water, and a small saucepan with a lid.

You can also add some honey for sweetness and some lemon for a kick, but both of these are optional and not needed to enjoy this tea to the fullest.

Begin by gathering your dried mountain tea, which is typically sold in loose bunches of stems, leaves, and flowers. For each cup of tea, take two to three stems from the bunch. Place them in a small pot.

Add 8 to 10 fluid ounces of water to the pot for each cup of tea. Place the pot on your stove over medium-high heat and cover it with a lid. Bring the water to a boil, then reduce the heat to a simmer. Simmer the tea for anywhere from one to three minutes, depending on how strong you want it. Keep the lid on at all times during this process to preserve the essential oils in the tea.

After simmering, turn off the heat and let the tea steep for at least two minutes, still with the lid on. The longer you steep it, the stronger the flavor will be. Don’t worry if you forget about it; Greek mountain tea can steep for up to 15 minutes without becoming bitter.

To serve, you can use a ladle directly from the pot, as the solids are easy to strain out. If there are numerous small bits in the pot, consider passing the tea through a fine mesh strainer. You can also add honey for sweetness or a squeeze of fresh lemon juice for a zesty kick.

Greek mountain tea isn’t limited to just hot brews. You can also experiment with the recipe and brew a cup of delicious iced mountain tea! To do this, follow the steps above, then chill the tea in the refrigerator. Prepare a pitcher and keep it in the fridge for refreshing sips throughout the week.

Alternatively, you can also try different flavor combinations. In Greece, it’s common to add a cinnamon stick to the pot while brewing mountain tea, introducing an extra layer of flavor. You can also get creative with additions like lavender and chamomile to complement the herbal charm of Greek mountain tea.

Travelers to Mali won’t have to wonder for very long what kind of treat to have for breakfast. The alluring smell of fresh Maasa being served streetside will make the decision easy. Crispy on the outside, soft on the inside, and covered in a generous coating of powdered sugar, this street food item is quite satisfying and naturally gluten-free!

Simple and Straightforward Ingredients

This recipe is gluten-free because it uses brown rice flour in a combination with millet flour. The dough is pan-fried to achieve the crunchy on the outside and doughy on the inside texture that feels like a cross between pancakes and doughnuts. The recipe makes 12 to 18 servings and calls for:

• Half a cup of whole milk and an additional one and a half cups
• Two cups of brown rice flour
• Two cups of millet flour
• A quarter cup of boiling water
• Two tablespoons of sugar
• Two teaspoons of active dry yeast
• One tablespoon of baking powder
• Vegetable oil for frying
• Powdered sugar

How to Prepare This Dish from Mali

Combine the boiling water, half a cup of milk, sugar, and yeast, and set aside until the yeast activates. In the meantime, combine the two types of flour and the baking powder in a large bowl. Add the yeast mixture and begin whisking in the remaining one and a half cups of milk until a thicker batter is made. Cover the batter and let it sit in a warm spot for 30 to 45 minutes.

When the dough has risen and become bubbly, it’s time to start frying. In hot oil, lay down the dough by the spoonful and fry until golden brown on both sides. Drain them on a prepared plate lined with paper towels.

Enjoy Them Right Away

This Mali dish is usually served with a dusting of powdered sugar. This doesn’t mean that one can’t get adventurous by adding a coating of fresh honey instead or having them alongside fruit, nuts, or whatever their preference is. Enjoy the Maasa while they’re warm!