Black Tea

NYT Cooking

Oct 10, 2025

Shai Magnan (Sudanese Burned Milk Tea)

A style of milk tea from Sudan, shai magnan is typically made by cooking milk down to a deep golden brown. Black tea is brewed in a separate pot with spices and sugar, then eventually poured gently into the browned milk. Spattering ensues, and, for the uninitiated, it could prompt some dodging to avoid hot milk burns. Here, molasses, with its robust sweet-savoriness, mimics the nuanced flavor of the cooked milk without having to cook it down. It's a shortcut that results in a similar brew for an anytime cup to enjoy on its own or with a favorite butter cookie or shortbread.