one thing i adore is having a pot of chai tea on the stove while i'm working at home in chilly weather.
the combination of fragrant spices, a bit of caffeine kick and the warmth of holding a hot cup of chai in my hand make it my favorite pick-me-up either mid morning or afternoon.
Masala Chai Tea
per 8 oz serving, add the following
3/4 cup water
2-4 whole green cardamom pods, smashed
1-2 thin slices fresh ginger
1 1-inch cinnamon stick
1 piece star anise
3/4 cup milk (it works beautifully with coconut or almond)
1 1/2 teaspoons loose black tea leaves (i prefer oolong, ceylon or keemun, but you can also use roobios to make it caffeine free just as easily)
sweetener, to taste (i usually use a combination of stevia and honey)
optional: i've added split vanilla bean pods (leftover from other recipes), dried orange rinds, a drop or two of almond flavoring, a bit of raw cacao, and more spices/flavors i can remember. it's a super versatile recipe.
In a small saucepan, combine the water, cardamom, ginger, cinnamon stick and star anise. Bring the mixture to a boil then lower the heat and simmer for a few minutes until the mixture is fragrant. Add the milk and tea leaves, and simmer for another minute then turn off the heat and let steep for 2 minutes. Pour into a cup through a fine mesh sieve. Discard the leaves and spices. Add sweetener, to taste.
If you want deeply flavored tea in the morning, follow these alternate directions starting the night before.
In a small saucepan, combine the water, cardamom, cinnamon stick and star anise. Do not add the ginger yet. Bring to a boil then turn it off and cover the pan. In the morning, add the sliced ginger and bring to a boil then lower the heat and simmer for a few minutes until the mixture is fragrant. Add the milk and tea leaves, and simmer for another minute then turn off the heat and let steep for 2 minutes. Pour into a cup through a fine mesh sieve. Discard the tea and spices. Add sweetener, to taste.
note: people always ask me where i get my spices for this recipe. i get almost all my spices at my health food store in the bulk bin. it's so much cheaper than anything actually sitting on a grocery spice rack, usually organic (which i especially care about because they're often imported from countries with lax fertilizer/pesticide rules) and 10x fresher.
the combination of fragrant spices, a bit of caffeine kick and the warmth of holding a hot cup of chai in my hand make it my favorite pick-me-up either mid morning or afternoon.
Masala Chai Tea
per 8 oz serving, add the following
3/4 cup water
2-4 whole green cardamom pods, smashed
1-2 thin slices fresh ginger
1 1-inch cinnamon stick
1 piece star anise
3/4 cup milk (it works beautifully with coconut or almond)
1 1/2 teaspoons loose black tea leaves (i prefer oolong, ceylon or keemun, but you can also use roobios to make it caffeine free just as easily)
sweetener, to taste (i usually use a combination of stevia and honey)
optional: i've added split vanilla bean pods (leftover from other recipes), dried orange rinds, a drop or two of almond flavoring, a bit of raw cacao, and more spices/flavors i can remember. it's a super versatile recipe.
In a small saucepan, combine the water, cardamom, ginger, cinnamon stick and star anise. Bring the mixture to a boil then lower the heat and simmer for a few minutes until the mixture is fragrant. Add the milk and tea leaves, and simmer for another minute then turn off the heat and let steep for 2 minutes. Pour into a cup through a fine mesh sieve. Discard the leaves and spices. Add sweetener, to taste.
If you want deeply flavored tea in the morning, follow these alternate directions starting the night before.
In a small saucepan, combine the water, cardamom, cinnamon stick and star anise. Do not add the ginger yet. Bring to a boil then turn it off and cover the pan. In the morning, add the sliced ginger and bring to a boil then lower the heat and simmer for a few minutes until the mixture is fragrant. Add the milk and tea leaves, and simmer for another minute then turn off the heat and let steep for 2 minutes. Pour into a cup through a fine mesh sieve. Discard the tea and spices. Add sweetener, to taste.
note: people always ask me where i get my spices for this recipe. i get almost all my spices at my health food store in the bulk bin. it's so much cheaper than anything actually sitting on a grocery spice rack, usually organic (which i especially care about because they're often imported from countries with lax fertilizer/pesticide rules) and 10x fresher.
