Chai Tea - homemade
Description
This is my personal mix for chai masala tea, otherwise known as chai tea. I'm a confirmed chai whore, and every time I make a batch of tea, it is a little different, preserving the delight in the tea. You'll soon discover that your personal mix of spices will evolve to match your tastes. I happen to be partial to the more 'Christmasy' spices like cinnamon and cloves. Other like a sharper taste, and add more cardamom. Play with it and make it your own!Ingredients
- 3-4 cups of your choice of tea, loose
- 3-5 sticks cinnamon, ground into smallish pieces Handful of whole cardamom pods
- 8-10 cloves, crushed
- Handful of whole cardamom pods (green)
- An allspice (they look like teeny walnuts), grated
- ¼ tsp Whole black pepper – crushed or ground coarsely in a pepper grinder
- 2-3 tsp ground ginger (don’t use fresh, it has too much moisture)
- Optional: 2-3 chopped vanilla beans
Methods/steps
Mix all these items in a big mixing bowl, and store in a gallon baggie or other airtight container. To make your tea (P2 safe): For a pot, or to make in a stovetop pan if you don’ t have a teapot (what I do when I’m traveling and the home I’m in doesn’t have a teapot), fill a large mesh tea ball with your tea mixture, pour boiling water over to fill your pan or teapot, cover (this is important), and let steep for 15-20 minutes. Fill your mug, add your choice of stevia (I like to add vanilla stevia to mine, but I think chocolate, mint, cinnamon or caramel would work just great too!), and enjoy!! To make just a cup, fill your small tea ball, put in your mug, pour in boiling water, steep, sweeten and enjoy!!
To make chai for P3, follow the instructions above and add a dollop of heavy cream before sweetening. Oh. My. God., it is *heaven*. That is the very first thing I will be having when I hit P3 (closely followed by BACONNNNNNN!!).
Of course, proper chai is made by boiling water and milk together with the tea loose in the pan, per my Indian friends’ directions. However, this is the easy, quick way, and I’ve had hundreds of chais, both traditional and not, and this version gives a very good chai that closely resembles what my Indian friends make without trashing the kitchen.
Additional Tips
Equipment needed:
- Mixing bowl
- Small coffee grinder, I got mine at walmart for about $15
- Large mesh tea ball
- Small mesh tea ball
Sources for spices:
- http://www.penzeys.com
- http://www.auntiearwenspices.com – tell her I sent you, she’s a friend
- Whole Foods, or your local health food store