Indian Chai Recipe
I’ve been working on my chai recipe since I returned to from India a few weeks ago, and although my version still doesn’t hold a candle to the stuff on the streets of Mysore, I think I’m making progress. It’s one of my favorite things about traveling there – those sweet, comforting glasses of hot tea, sugar and milk guaranteed to keep you caffeinated for hours. The tea takes a about 20 minutes to brew but it’s worth the wait…there’s nothing better than a steaming cup to warm you up on a January afternoon!
~Dana’s Indian Chai~
Boil 2.5 cups water in small pot with:
4 tablespoons of loose leaf black tea or 4 chai tea bags
1 cinnamon stick
1/2 inch fresh ginger root
1 teaspoon black pepper corns
1 teaspoon cloves
6-8 cracked cardamom pods
2 teaspoons sugar
A dash or two of:
Ground nutmeg
Ground turmeric
let boil and simmer for 10 minutes
Reduce heat and add:
Between 3/4 to 1.5 cups milk, cream or alternative (depending on how milky you like your chai)
1 or 2 additional teaspoons sugar (depending on how sweet you like your chai)
Return to boil and simmer for 10 more minutes
Strain into teapot and serve!