Many people out there love the spiced and frothy drink called chai. Chai is the Hindu word for tea. The recipe was a royal secret in the ancient courts of India and Siam, and legend says that chai was invented by a king. You can get it at your local Starbucks, or on the grocery store shelves. Most of the time, you are simply adding milk to a mysterious and somewhat syrupy liquid and calling it delicious. Yet no one realizes how easy it is to make your own at home. Here is a light hearted but welcoming recipe to this classic and tasty beverage.
HOMEMADE CHAI TEA RECIPE
2 cups water
1/4 cup Darjeeling or Ceylon Tea Leaves or 5 regular size tea bags
1 cup milk
1 cup half and half (lowfat is okay)
1/4 teaspoon ground cardamom
3 cloves, crushed
2 black peppercorns, crushed
1/8 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/8 teaspoon ground ginger
1/4 cup sweetened condensed milk
PREPARATION:
1) In a medium size saucepan, bring the water to a gentle boil. Stir the tea leaves into the water. Reduce the heat to medium-low and simmer for 5 minutes. Add the milk, half and half, cardamom, cloves, peppercorns, cinnamon, and ginger. Increase the heat and bring to a full boil, being careful not to let the milk boil over.
2) Remove from the heat and strain through a fine mesh-strainer into a heatproof container. Stir in the condensed milk.
3) Let cool, then chill and serve over ice.
Makes 4 servings.
FOR MAXIMUM FLAVOR:
To crush the peppercorns and cloves, use the edge of a saute pan. For even fresher, bolder flavors, use whole cardamom seeds ground in a spice grinder or mortar and pestle. For a variation, try adding 1/4 tsp. pure vanilla extract with the condensed milk.
