Recipe: Homemade Chai Tea (make ahead or freeze ahead)

HOMEMADE CHAI

5 cups water
1/4 cup roughly chopped unpeeled fresh ginger
Three (4-inch) cinnamon sticks
3 whole cloves
4 cardamom pods
3 black peppercorns
One (1-inch) circular slice unpeeled orange
4 black tea bags, regular or decaffeinated
1/4 to 1/2 cup honey, to taste
1 1/2 to 2 cups milk (low-fat or whole), to taste

Combine the 5 cups water, ginger, cinnamon, cloves, cardamom, peppercorns, and orange slice in a medium pot. Partially cover the pot, bring the mixture to a boil, reduce the heat, and simmer for 15 minutes.

Take the pot off the heat, add the tea bags, cover, and steep for 5 minutes.

Put a strainer over the bowl and strain the liquid. Add the honey to taste. To store the chai in the refrigerator or freezer without milk, do so now. Otherwise, return the tea to the pot, add the milk, and reheat.

STORAGE:
- Fridge: covered container, with milk, 5 days; without milk, 2 weeks
- Freezer: freezer-safe container, without milk, 6 months (thaw in refrigerator and reheat with milk on the stovetop)

Makes 6 cups
Source: The Homemade Pantry by Alana Chernila