Shai Libi (Libyan Strong Tea with Foam)
Local name: شاي ليبي
In short: Black tea boiled strong and sweet, then poured from glass to glass to raise a thick foam and served in small cups in three rounds. It takes about 30 min in total and makes 6 servings.
- Prep
- 5 min
- Cook
- 25 min
- Total
- 30 min
- Servings
- 6
- Difficulty
- Easy
- Calories
- 50 kcal
A visit to a Libyan home means tea, offered in rounds and rarely refused. The leaves are boiled hard with sugar until the tea turns dark and syrupy, then poured between glasses to raise a thick foam called reghwa. The first glass is strong, the second milder, and the third often comes with fresh mint or roasted peanuts. Tea is the ending to nearly every meal and the reason many visits stretch for hours.
Instructions
- Bring the 600 ml (2 1/2 cups) of water to a boil in a small pot. Add the tea and sugar, lower the heat and simmer for 8 to 10 minutes, until the tea is very dark.
- Strain the tea through a small sieve into a heatproof jug, keeping the leaves. Pour the tea back and forth between the jug and a small glass from a height of about 30 cm (12 in), 4 or 5 times, until a thick foam forms on top.
- Divide the tea among small glasses, spooning a little foam on each, and serve the first round.
- Return the tea leaves to the pot with 300 ml (1 1/4 cups) of water and 1 tablespoon of the sugar. Boil for 5 minutes, strain for the second round, then pour from glass to glass again to foam.
- For the third round, add the last 300 ml (1 1/4 cups) of water, the last tablespoon of sugar and the mint, if using, to the leaves and boil for 3 minutes. Strain, foam and serve, with roasted peanuts if you like.
Tips
- Use a strong small-leaf black tea. Delicate teas turn bitter and thin after this much boiling.
- Pour from a steady height, with the glasses held close together, to build the foam without splashing. The sweeter the tea, the thicker the foam will be.
Questions and answers
Why is Libyan tea poured between glasses?
Pouring from a height cools the tea slightly and traps air, which makes the foam called reghwa. A thick foam is a sign of well-made tea.
Can I make Libyan tea with less sugar?
Yes. Cut the sugar by a third for a milder cup. The foam will be a little thinner.
What is served with Libyan tea?
Dates, roasted peanuts and small sweets such as maqrood, ghoriba or sfinz are the usual companions.
How long does it take to make Shai Libi (Libyan Strong Tea with Foam)?
About 30 min in total: 5 min of preparation and 25 min of cooking.
How many calories are in Shai Libi (Libyan Strong Tea with Foam)?
About 50 kcal per serving, with 0 g of protein, 12 g of carbohydrates and 0 g of fat. These values are estimates.
Nutrition per serving
| Calories | 50 kcal |
|---|---|
| Protein | 0 g |
| Carbohydrates | 12 g |
| Fat | 0 g |
| Fiber | 0 g |
| Sugar | 12 g |
| Sodium | 5 mg |
Estimated values, calculated from the ingredients.
