How to make Simple Indian Tea (chai)

Today I want to go through the steps of making a Chai, or indian tea. I am only going to use one special ingredient and that is cardamon seeds (also know a lachee). Serving size will be for 2 people. This is a very simple way to make chai, using regular tea bags you have at home.

Difficulty: Moderate

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• 1 cup of cold water
• 1 cup of milk (3%, 2%, 1%, whatever you prefer)
• 2 cardamon seeds (also known as "cardamom")
• 1 good quality tea bag (I prefer tetley tea)
• Sugar (amount you use is optional)
• 1 stainless steel saucepan
• 1 small seive strainer that will fit over a cup
• 2 pretty tea cups with saucers !

1. Measure one cup of water and pour into the saucepan. Add your teabag and 2 cardamon seeds (see next step for cardamon steps)

2. 
   Select cardamon seeds that are not dried. Make sure they have a nice green color

   Open up the cardamon seeds before you drop in the water (you can take it one step further and even use a mortar and pestle to crush the cardamon seeds before adding to your water)

3. Put the temperature on high and let your tea come to a rolling boil. Add 1 cup of milk and add as much sugar as you wish for sweetness at this time. At this point DO NOT walk away from your tea. Watch it very carefully.

4. Once your tea starts to come to a boil, turn off the heat, remove the saucepan from the heat.

5. Put your strainer over your tea cup and pour your tea carefully. Be extra careful, it will be hot.

Tips & Warnings

• You can buy green cardamon seeds at your local supermarket. Truthfully, the best place to buy is at your local indian store
• Sugar is optional. You can add up to 2 tablespoons of sugar if you like your tea sweet, or even just 1 teaspoon.
• You can add other ingredients to your tea, such as black whole cloves and ginger, it is up to you. Add these right in the beginning when you add your teabag.
• Don't walk away from your tea once you add your milk. It will come quickly to a boil and will boil over if you don't watch it ! Its a mess to clean up, so avoid at all costs
• If your tea bag has a string, you may want to take the string off (if you have a gas stove, be careful about the flame (incidentally, in India tea is usually sold loose)
• Tea will be very hot; Be careful not to burn your tongue!!

Resources

• Great recipes: Diary of a Born-Again Cook !

[ElectricianDave]

on 11/7/2008 Fantastic - I'll Try It - Thanks!
5*s

[Toshabntz]

on 11/7/2008 I love Chai tea. I am going to try this one out. Thanks!

[Aries0681]

on 10/13/2008 Great recipe. Thank you for sharing. :)

[Aries0681]

on 10/13/2008 Great recipe. Thank you for sharing. :)

[yogicchai]

on 9/19/2008 Great authentic masala chai recipe

Ricardo
http://www.yogicchai.com