Sutti Shai (Kazakh Milk Tea)
Local name: сүтті шай
In short: Strong black tea poured over hot milk, with an optional pinch of salt and a spoonful of butter, the everyday drink offered to every Kazakh guest. It takes about 15 min in total and makes 4 servings.
- Prep
- 5 min
- Cook
- 10 min
- Total
- 15 min
- Servings
- 4
- Difficulty
- Easy
- Calories
- 105 kcal
Sutti shai means tea with milk, and it is what Kazakhs offer first to anyone who walks through the door. Strong black tea is poured over hot milk in a wide cup or bowl, often with a pinch of salt or a spoonful of butter. It is served with baursak, bread and sweets, and refilled often. The taste is soft, creamy and a little savory, and the tea should be brewed much stronger than you would for drinking plain.
Instructions
- Bring the water to a boil. Take it off the heat, add the tea and steep for 5 minutes to make a very strong brew.
- Strain the tea into a small teapot and keep it warm.
- Heat the milk in a pan until steaming, without letting it boil. Divide it among 4 wide cups or small bowls.
- Add a tiny pinch of salt and a little butter to each cup, if using. Pour in the strong tea until the cup is about two-thirds full, then stir and serve with sugar on the side.
Tips
- Brew the tea stronger than usual. The milk dilutes it, and a weak brew just tastes like warm milk.
- For a richer cup, replace a quarter of the milk with cream. A pinch of salt rounds the flavor, so try a very small amount first.
Questions and answers
Is salt in Kazakh tea traditional?
Many families add a small pinch, especially in rural areas, where it is part of the old way of drinking tea. It is optional and the amount is tiny.
Can I use plant milk?
Yes. Oat milk works best, as it is creamy and does not curdle. The flavor will be a little sweeter than with cow's milk.
What do you serve with it?
Baursak, flatbread, dried fruit, sweets and butter. A pot is often kept on the table during a whole meal.
How long does it take to make Sutti Shai (Kazakh Milk Tea)?
About 15 min in total: 5 min of preparation and 10 min of cooking.
How many calories are in Sutti Shai (Kazakh Milk Tea)?
About 105 kcal per serving, with 5 g of protein, 8 g of carbohydrates and 6 g of fat. These values are estimates.
Nutrition per serving
| Calories | 105 kcal |
|---|---|
| Protein | 5 g |
| Carbohydrates | 8 g |
| Fat | 6 g |
| Fiber | 0 g |
| Sugar | 8 g |
| Sodium | 100 mg |
Estimated values, calculated from the ingredients.
