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Helba (fenugreek tea)
حلبة: fenugreek seeds boiled into a golden, nutty, bitter-sweet tea for cold winter evenings
Helba is the other hot drink chalked on the board of every Egyptian coffee house, ordered in winter by students and old men playing dominoes alike. At home it is brewed when someone has a cold, after childbirth, or simply on chilly nights in the Delta, and is traditionally drunk to soothe the chest and the stomach. Fenugreek seeds are boiled until the water turns amber-yellow; the cup tastes nutty and toasty, like maple and celery, with a pleasant bitterness that sugar softens. Some people add a splash of milk at the end. Fenugreek is not advised during pregnancy, can lower blood sugar and may interact with blood thinners, so check with your doctor if you take medication; it can also make your sweat smell faintly of maple, which is harmless. The common mistake is boiling unrinsed seeds hard for a long time, which gives a slimy, very bitter tea. Rinse them, toast them briefly and boil only 8–10 minutes. It is ready when the liquid is clear golden-amber and smells of warm maple. Chef's tip: soak the seeds overnight first for a milder, rounder brew, and eat the softened seeds with a spoon as Egyptians do.
- Total time
- 14 min
- Difficulty
- easy
- Serves
- 2
Ingredients
For the tea
- 2 tbsp fenugreek seeds
- 2 ½ cups water
- 3 tsp white sugarto taste
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What you'll need
Spices & pantry
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Method
0/4 doneStep 1: Rinse 2 tbsp fenugreek seeds in a fine sieve under cold water for 30 seconds, until the water runs clear.
1 minStep 2: Toast the drained seeds in a dry pot over medium heat for 1–2 minutes, stirring, until they smell nutty and darken a shade.
2 minStep 3: Add 2 ½ cups water, bring to the boil, then lower the heat and boil gently for 8–10 minutes, until the liquid is clear golden-amber and smells of maple.
10 minStep 4: Pour into two cups, with or without the seeds, stir in 3 tsp white sugar and drink hot.
1 min
Nutrition per serving
- Calories
- 45 kcal
- Protein
- 1 g
- Carbs
- 9 g
- Fat
- 0 g
- Fibre
- 1 g
Nutrition values are estimates.
KrazyBadal
Good to know
- How long does helba (fenugreek tea) take?
- About 14 minutes in total: 2 minutes to prepare and 12 minutes to cook.
- How many people does it serve?
- 2 as written. Change the servings above the ingredients and every amount scales to match.
- Is it vegan?
- Yes. It has no meat, fish, dairy or eggs.
- Is it gluten free?
- Yes, as written. Check the labels on stock, sauces and spice mixes, which sometimes contain gluten.
- What can I use instead of fenugreek seeds?
- Leave them out, or add a little extra mustard seed (you lose the slightly bitter, maple-like note).
- What can I use instead of white sugar?
- Caster sugar, same amount.
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