How to Make Chai (Indian Spiced Tea)

Chai (simply, the word for tea in many Indian languages) is black tea with sugar, spices, and milk. The following version uses whole spices, but you can use Indian "tea masala" or tea spice mixtures as well. Serves two.

Instructions

Difficulty: Easy

Things You’ll Need:

• 3-5 whole cloves
• 3-5 black peppercorns
• 2-3 thin slices fresh ginger roots
• 2 tsp. sugars
• 2 cardamom pods - crushed
• 1 large cinnamon sticks
• 1 c. milk
• 2 rounded tsp. black teas

1. Put 2½ c. water in a small pot with the sugar, cloves, ginger, cardamom pods, cinnamon stick, and peppercorns.
2. Slowly bring to a boil over medium-low heat and simmer for a few minutes.
3. Add 2 rounded tsps. of tea, turn off the heat, cover, and let steep for 3-5 minutes.
4. Add milk to the pot, turn the heat back on to medium-low and heat through.
5. Strain the tea into mugs or a teapot and serve.

Tips & Warnings

• If using prepared tea masala, add ¼ tsp. to the pot with the sugar.
• Chai measurements are really to your own taste. Adjust the amount of spices, sweetener, and milk as you wish. You can also use fewer spices: just cardamom, for example, or just ginger.