Chai Tea

Chai Tea

Chai Tea is a beverage with no hard and fast recipe.  The one rule you want to follow is, do not boil the spices after you add the tea leaves but steep only.  Spices can be altered, eliminated, or increased to suit your taste.  This formula I offer is from the internet.   

Ingredients:

15 green cardamom pods or 6 brown pods

4 cinnamon sticks or 16 grams

16 grams black peppercorns or 1 tablespoon

12 whole cloves

Place on a baking tray and roast at 350*F  for 6 to 8 minutes until fragrant.  When cooled, grind the spices with a mortar and pestle, .   

Add ground spices and the ginger and nutmeg to filtered water: 

1/3 cup ginger,  rough chopped

1/4 teaspoon fresh grated nutmeg

1 quart filtered water:

MOST IMPORTANT   Over boiling will make your Chai bitter!  

Bring to a boil and quickly reduce heat to a simmer for 10 minutes.  Cool 30 seconds,  and add 1/2 cup good quality black tea.  Steep 4 to 5 minutes.  Do not boil tea but steep !!!

Add equal part of flavored mix with equal milk.