Steeping: Lemongrass-Juniper Berry Tea

I have graduated to a Japanese cast-iron teapot. Unlike my old pot, it works directly on a stovetop and keeps tea hot for as long as it rests on a lit tea warmer. It is gifting me richer experiences and I am enjoying experimenting with different ways of making tea. The lemongrass-juniper berry tea  relies as much on its ingredients as on its process for best results. The caffeine-less tea should look golden-brownish when made well and taste slightly lemony, peppery, a touch flowery and minty. Here’s how you make it:
You will need:
+ 1 tbs lemongrass
+ 3/4 tbs chamomile
+ 1/2 tsp crushed dried ginger
+ 1/4 tsp juniper berries
+ 1/4 tsp spearmint
+ 1/4 osmanthus flower
+ crushed cinnamon sticks
+ about 8 green peppercorns
+ a dash of cumin
Prep:
+ crush ginger, cinnamon and pepper together for a fused taste
+ mix in other ingredients
+ put tea into a roomy infuser, slightly coat inside of teapot with a tsp of water and fit infuser into pot
+ cover teapot and have it sit on low heat for no more than 2 minutes without additional water
(This makes the tea more fragrant and makes your space smell wonderful too)
+ pour cold water into pot while still on stovetop, through the infuser (my pot supports 24 ounces)
+ let tea warm up on low heat until about to boil
+ remove tea from stovetop before it boils (otherwise it splashes and makes a mess)
+ enjoy your tea at a slow pace
Happy November
JAO

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