Inspired by the tea ceremonies of the Lunar New Year, you can make this sweet and warming tea with your favorite dried fruit.

Mid-February marks the beginning of a new year according to the Lunar New Year celebrations in China and Vietnam. On the first day of the new year, the young pay tribute to their elders by brewing and serving a sweet black tea dotted with dried fruits.

This version of the New Year tea uses light sweetness and whatever dried fruit suits your fancy.

Enjoy with our Vietnamese Iced Coffee cookies on the side.

Gather your ingredients

Serves two

• 2 tsp dried oolong or other black tea

• 2 cups of water

• 2 tsp brown sugar

• 1/4—1/2 cup of your favorite dried fruits, cut into slices if large. We like apricots and plums, but any dried fruit will work here.

• Tea Sock or tea brewer

Make your tea

• Rinse and dry your dried fruit, if needed.

• In a teapot, kettle, or saucepan, bring 2 cups of water to a boil.

• In two tea cups, add 1 tsp of brown sugar to each.

• Place 1 tsp dried tea leaves each in two tea socks or brewers and place into the tea cups with the sugar

• Once the water is boiling, add half of the dried fruit to each cup and divide the hot water into the cups.

• Steep for three-five minutes, to your desired tea strength, then remove the tea sock or brewer.

• Let cool to taste, then enjoy!