Moroccan Mint Tea - cooking recipe

Ingredients

1 quart boiling water, plus more for heating the teapot
3 green tea bags (equivalent to 1 Tablespoon loose green tea)
3/4 cup sugar
3 cups firmly packed mint leaves, and tender stems crushed, plus
4 sprigs of fresh mint, for garnish

Preparation

Pour about 1/2 cup boiling water into a teapot, swish it around to heat the pot, and dump out. Add tea to the teapot and pour in 1 cup of the boiling water. Cover and let steep 3 minutes.
Add sugar and mint leaves and stems to the teapot. Add the remaining 3 cups boiling water. Cover and let steep for 5 minutes.
Stir. Continue to steep for 5 minutes more.
Strain tea into cups.