Adani Tea (Shai Adani)
Yemen
Yemen's beloved brew—intensely sweet, fragrant with cardamom, and often touched with ginger and cloves. Tea as hospitality.
The Story
Adani tea takes its name from the port city of Aden, where it became the signature drink of Yemeni coffee houses and homes. While Yemen is famous for coffee, this tea holds equal cultural weight. It's brewed strong with loose black tea, heavily sweetened, and perfumed with cardamom—sometimes with ginger, cloves, or even a hint of black pepper. Served in small glass cups, it's the drink of welcome, negotiation, and friendship.
Flavor Notes
Perfect For
- Hospitality
- After meals
- Cold evenings
- Conversation
- Yemeni cuisine pairing
Pairs Well With
Make It at Home
4 small cups · 15 minutes
Ingredients
- 2 cups water
- 2 tablespoons loose black tea
- 6-8 green cardamom pods, crushed
- 1-inch fresh ginger, sliced (optional)
- 3-4 whole cloves (optional)
- 4-6 tablespoons sugar (traditional is very sweet)
- 1/2 cup evaporated milk or to taste
Steps
- 1Add water, crushed cardamom, ginger, and cloves to a saucepan
- 2Bring to a boil and simmer 2-3 minutes to infuse spices
- 3Add tea leaves and sugar, stir well
- 4Boil for 3-4 minutes, stirring occasionally
- 5Add evaporated milk and return to a boil
- 6Simmer for another 2-3 minutes until richly colored
- 7Strain into small glass cups
- 8Serve hot with dates or Yemeni sweets
Variations to Try
- ✦Add a pinch of black pepper for extra warmth
- ✦Use condensed milk for sweeter version
- ✦Add saffron threads for special occasions
- ✦Skip the milk for black Adani
Related Variants
How to Brew
Our recommended approach for the best cup
Water Temperature
212°F
(100°C)
Amount
2 tablespoons black tea, 4-5 cardamom pods per 8oz
Steep Time
Boil 5-8 minutes
Resteeps
Not traditional
Recommended Vessel
Small saucepan, glass cups
Brewing Tips
Yemenis brew their tea very sweet—don't be shy with sugar. Crush cardamom pods to release seeds. Some add a small piece of ginger or a few cloves. The tea should be strong enough to stand up to all that sweetness.