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Warming Chai Tea

Description

Making chai tea from scratch is easy and you'll appreciate how the fragrance will fill your kitchen! Your body will appreciate it, too: Ginger and cinnamon contain powerful anti-inflammatory properties, and both also are warming to the body and soul during the holiday season.

Ingredients

4 cup
water
2 inch
fresh peeled ginger
2  
cinnamon sticks
4  
cardamom pods
12  
whole cloves
12  
whole peppercorns
1⁄2  
whole star anise
1  
black tea bag (Ceylon/Darjeeling)
2 cup
milk
1 tbsp
honey
1 tbsp
brown sugar

Instructions

Heat water in a medium pot.

In a food processor (such as a Magic Bullet) or with a mortar and pestle, grind up the ginger, cinnamon, cardamom pods, whole peppercorns, whole cloves and star anise. With a mortar and pestle it will be more difficult to grind, but the flavor will still be released from the spices.

Add spices to water and let steep for 5-10 minutes on low heat.

Using a thin slotted strainer or cheese cloth, pour the water into another bowl and discard the spices. Pour the spiced water back into the pan and add the tea bag. Let steep for another 5 minutes.

Remove tea bag; add milk, honey and brown sugar. Let heat for 2 minutes, then serve.

Notes

Environmental Tips

  • Make up a pot of chai, store it in the refrigerator to have throughout the week, and take it in a travel mug instead of buying drinks at a coffee shops.
  • Create earth-friendly presents for family and friends by recycling or using small glass jars to make ready-to-go chai tea kits with all the dry ingredients and instructions.
Cinnamon sticks, ginger, anise, whole peppercorns and cloves on prep plate

Summary

Yield
Servings
SourceAdapted by Maureen Leonard from an original recipe by Gen Shroder, 2000.
Prep time
5 minutes
Cooking time
15 minutes
Total time
20 minutes