Boil 5 minutes, then steep 10 minutes:
1 Tbsp fennel or anise seed
6 green cardamom pods
12 cloves
1 cinnamon stick
1/4" ginger root, sliced thin
1/4 tsp black pepper corns
2 bay leaves
7 Cups water
Add, bring to a boil, and simmer 5 minutes:
2 Tbsp Darjeeling tea
Add:
6 Tbsp honey or brown sugar
1 Cup milk
1/3 water
2/3 milk
1 teaspoon of tea for each cup measure (plus a bit extra) freshly chopped ginger
cardamom pods
a little piece clove (optional)
enough sugar to make it sweet
Throw it all into a suacepan cold and bring slowly to a boil. When boiling turn up the heat and swirl it around until it reaches the desired strength and the spices provide a kick. Strain it into small glasses.
**Chandra Chai**
12 (+) silver dollar-sized pieces fresh ginger (to your taste) 4-5 sticks cinnamon, broken into little pieces 1 Tblspn (T.) plus 1 tspn (t.) plus 1/2 t. green cardamom pods 2 t. plus 1/4 t. black peppercorns
1 t. whole cloves
1/2 t. fennel seeds
1/2 t. licorice root
1/2 t. allspice berries
1 vanilla bean (optional)
5 cups water
3 T. honey
soy milk or cow milk
Combine all ingredients, excepting the honey and milk, with cold water in a pot. Cover snugly! Simmer over a medium-low flame for 50 minutes. Remove from heat, but let sit, covered, for another 40-50 minutes. Filter the dreamy concoction into a suitable container. Stir in the honey and add enough milk to taste.
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