South Asian cultures are known for their obsession with Chai and it’s not an exaggerated truth. My mornings never go without a nice warm cup of ilaichi (cardamom) chai. Classic chai is basically a combination of black tea and milk. My personal favorite variation is the addition of cardamom and/or cinnamon.
Ingredients
- 1/3 cup water
- 2/3 cup milk (preferably full fat)
- 2 teabags black tea (or 2 tablespoons loose black tea)
- 2 cardamom pods (or 1/2 teaspoon crushed cardamom)
- Pinch of cinnamon (optional)
- Sugar to taste
Note: For black tea, the brand matters a lot. Preferably use Tapal, Brooke Bond or PG tips.
Method
- Add all ingredients except the milk in a saucepan, put on medium high heat
- Just before the water begins to boil, add milk
- Bring the whole mixture to boil and lower the heat
- Let it cook for at least 2-5 minutes.
- Strain the mixture in a cup.