Chai

Annie_T

Please, please can somebody send me a recipie for good chai? I have been experimenting with what I thought/was in it but my results have been very disappointing.

I want to close my eyes and be in India when I drink it!

Many thanks

KathSF

This one's from my Indian Vegetarian cookbook. Haven't tried it but it looks about right:

MASALA CHAI (makes 2 1/2 to 3 cups)

2 1/2 cups water
1 teaspoon tea masala (see below)
1 1/2 to 2 teaspoons loose tea leaves
1/4 cup or more milk
sugar to taste

Place the water and tea masala in a stainless steel saucepan or kettle that can be washed, and bring to a boil over high heat. Reduce the heat to medium-low, cover the pan, and simmer for 5 minutes. Add the tea leaves (the amount depending on the variety of the tea and the strength required). Continue to boil for about 1 minute, then add the milk. Boil once more, strain, and pour. Serve with sugar on the side (personally, I'd add the sugar when I added the milk).

TEA MASALA

1 black cardamom pod
Seeds from 25 green cardamom pods
4 cloves
1/2 teaspoon fennel seeds
1/4 teaspoon black peppercorns
1/4 teaspoon carom seeds (need an Indian market for these)
1 teaspoon ground ginger
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon.

Grind the cardamom pod and seeds, cloves, fennel seeds, peppercorns, and carom seeds in a spice grinder until fine. then add the ginger and cinnamon. Grind once more to mix the spices. Remove to a small bottle and store in a cool dark place. This blend stays fresh for about 6 months.

(might want to try a cofee grinder or a blender if you don't have a spice grinder)

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