Recipe: Homemade Masala Chai

MASALA CHAI

3 cups water
1 1/2 cups whole milk
1 teaspoon whole cloves
1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
3 (5-inch) cinnamon sticks (preferably Ceylon cinnamon), each broken into four pieces
12 green cardamom pods, cracked (use your fingertips or a mortar and pestle)
8 thin slices of fresh ginger
2 tablespoons loose-leaf black tea, or 6 black tea bags
2 teaspoons Demerara sugar (or turbinado or light brown sugar)

Combine the water and milk in a saucepan set over medium heat. Stir in the cloves, pepper, cinnamon sticks, cardamom pods and ginger and bring to a simmer. Lower the heat and continue to simmer for 10 minutes.

Add the tea and sugar, turn off the heat and steep for three minutes.

Stir once, strain into teacups or tea glasses, and serve hot.

Makes 4 servings
Source: Hot Drinks by Mary Lou Heiss and Robert J. Heiss