Chai Tea From Scratch

Name: Chai Tea From Scratch
Ingredients: 2 cups filtered water; 1 cinnamon stick; 1/2 teaspoon minced cardamom pod, slightly crushed; 1/2 teaspoon black peppercorns; 3 whole cloves; 1/4 teaspoon fennel seed; 1 inch piece vanilla pod, split open lengthwise; 2 star anise; 3 -4 saffron threads; 1/4 teaspoon anise seed; 1/8 teaspoon freshly ground nutmeg; 1/3 teaspoon ground ginger; 2 tablespoons loose black tea leaves (read *NOTE) or 2 tea bags (read *NOTE); 2 cups milk (soy milk is good, too) or 2 cups rice milk (soy milk is good, too); honey, for sweetening, to taste (I prefer honey to sweeten my chai but I also like cane sugar-aka Sucanat)

15 ingredients

7 steps

Ingredients

2 cups filtered water
1 cinnamon stick
1/2 teaspoon minced cardamom pod, slightly crushed
1/2 teaspoon black peppercorns
3 whole cloves
1/4 teaspoon fennel seed
1 inch piece vanilla pod, split open lengthwise
2 star anise
3 -4 saffron threads
1/4 teaspoon anise seed
1/8 teaspoon freshly ground nutmeg
1/3 teaspoon ground ginger
2 tablespoons loose black tea leaves (read *NOTE) or 2 tea bags (read *NOTE)
2 cups milk (soy milk is good, too) or 2 cups rice milk (soy milk is good, too)
honey, for sweetening, to taste (I prefer honey to sweeten my chai but I also like cane sugar-aka Sucanat)

Directions

1

*NOTE: Any number of black tea varieties can be used in this recipe: Ceylon Orange Pekoe, Darjeeling, English Breakfast, Earl Grey, etc. You'll have to try several types of tea to find out which you prefer.
2

Pour the water into a heavy bottomed pan. Add the spices and tea bags (or loose tea placed in a tea infuser or muslin cloth).
3

Bring to a boil, partially cover pan and simmer about 20 minutes to allow spices to intensify.
4

Add the milk or milk substitute and heat through WITHOUT boiling until hot.
5

Pour chai tea through a strainer into tea cups. Add sweetener of choice if desired.
6

Sit, sip, close your eyes, relax, enjoy!
7

Servings are estimated.