There is nothing that compares with steeping whole spices and tea leaves to make your own authentic pot of fragrant, spicy, sweet chai.
Prep Time5 minutesmins
Cook Time20 minutesmins
Total Time25 minutesmins
Course: Drinks
Cuisine: American
Servings: 2servings
Calories: 94kcal
Ingredients
3cardamom podslightly cracked open with the back of a spoon
6whole cloves
½cinnamon stick
¼" slice of fresh ginger
5black peppercorns
1bay leaf
1tablespoonloose black tea leaves
3½cupswater
½cuphalf and half
1-2tablespoonslight brown sugar or honeyadjust according to taste
Instructions
Place the cardamom, cloves, cinnamon stick, ginger, peppercorns and bay leaf in a medium size saucepan. Add the water and bring to a boil. Allow this to boil for 5 minutes. Remove from the heat and steep for 10 minutes.
Add the tea leaves and return to a boil. Reduce the heat and simmer on medium for 5 minutes. Add the half and half and the sugar. Stir for about a minute, over low heat, until steaming. Pour through a fine mesh strainer into a teapot or mugs.
Notes
The recipe doubles perfectly and is a terrific way to make and keep several days worth of morning chai ready to drink with just a few minutes of warming on the stove or in the microwave.Pour any remaining chai mixture into small jars to store in the refrigerator. Reheat (or pour over ice) as desired.