Marck's Chai Tea Recipe

By marck

We have all gotten used to obtaining drinks like Chai tea by simply giving your order to a stranger standing at a register. But the experience of making your own Chai from "scratch" can be very relaxing, very ... well, Zen. It's worth getting up just a little earlier on a weekend morning to brew up this recipe. Trust me.

You might encounter this drink on a long train trip through India. The train would pull into a station along the route, and Chai vendors would approach the windows of the train cars carrying trays of steaming Chai pre-poured into small clay cups. Transactions would take place by passing money and tea right through the open train windows. Passengers would enjoy their cup of tea, and when the train began pulling out of the station, the clay cups were tossed from the window, smashing to pieces on the train platform. The act of breaking your Chai cup was considered good luck. (It also helps keep the makers of the clay cups in business.)

Ingredients

• CHAI SPICE MIX:
• 2 parts Cassia Saigon cinnamon
• 2 parts powdered cloves
• 2 parts ground ginger
• 2 parts ground cardamom
• 1 part finely ground black pepper
• TEA:
• 2 Tbsp Assam black tea leaves
• 1 Tbsp sugar
• 1-3/4 C water
• 1-3/4 C milk
• Heaping 1/4 tsp Chai spice mix

Preparation

Step 1

1. For Chai mix, combine spices together and keep in an airtight jar.

2. To make tea, combine the tea leaves, sugar, and water in a small pot or tea kettle and bring to a boil.

3. Add milk and Chai spice mix. Cover and reduce heat and simmer for 5 minutes.

4. Pre-warm two large mugs or cups with hot tap water for a couple of minutes. Discard the water.

5. Strain Chai tea into the two cups.

(Throwing your cups on your kitchen floor when you are finished is optional, but not necessarily recommended.)