Do you drink Chai tea?

I just got an email from Thomas...he said:



"I love you...and I didn't know that women can talk that much about Chai Tea" I guess he found his way over here today when he had a break!



Speaking of Chai Tea though......where IS that recipe? I'm dying to try making some on my own!!!



Kris

[DCJenn]

We're all meeting for Indian food this Sunday so I'll call her and ask her to bring the recipe.



Jenn

[SueC]

I just tried this for the first time the other day and it was really good--tasted like a gingerbread cookie to me!

Sorry, let me give you my recipe

I apologize for taking so long. I have just been really busy with school. Anyway, the recipe that I have for chai tea is as follows:

for 1 cup, add the following:

1/2 cup water
1/2 cup milk
loose tea (add enough for desired strength)
pinch of ground cardamom
teaspoon of sugar (add more if you wish)

For the best results make over the stove and let it come to a boil and let simmer for a few minutes while stirring. Then go ahead and strain it into a cup. I hope that this recipe helps any of you that would like to try it. And again, my apologies for having been so long with my response.

Rachel

Chai tea reci[e

I have a recipe I've used before and have really enjoyed it. It has a lot of ingredients but I think is worth it. I've omitted one or two ingredients here and there if I've run out out but try to stick to it as much as possible:

1 Tablespoon fennel or anise seed
6 green cardamom pods
12 whole cloves
1 cinnamaon stick
1/4 pice giner root, peeled, thinly sliced
1/4 teaspoon black peppercorns
2 bay leaves
7 cups water
2 Tablespoons darjeeling tea (although I've used jasmine and it's worked fine)
6 tablespoons honey or brown sugar
1 cup milk

1) In mediym saucepan, combine fennel seed, cardamom, cloves, cinnamon stick, giner, peppercorns, bay leaves and water.
2) Bring to boil 5 minutes; remove from heat and steep 10 minutes
3) Add tea, bring to a boil, reduce heat and simmer 5 minutes
4) Strain mixture, discarding spices. Return tea to saucepan and stir in honey and milk.
5) Serve immediately

Makes 6 servings about 3/4 cup per serving

[PrincessFiona]

yeah!

WooHoo....TWO chai tea recipes!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Thank you!!! I can't wait to make my own!!!

Kris

hot milk?

I had my very first tea from Gloria Jean's Coffee the other day...

My chai tea had hot milk in it! I have never had it with milk before any where in the world.

Can anyone tell me if it is meant to be served with milk and I have been always getting it wrong?

thanks,

Tegan

Tegan,

My fiancee's mother and father prepare their chai tea with half water and half milk. Actually, I have never had it without milk.....is it good that way? In my opinion, you should prepare it however you like it!


Rachel

[DCJenn]

It's always been with milk- but different kinds of milk- my yoga instructors use whole milk. I use 1%, others use soy or rice milk. I think it's pretty strong without the milk to dillute it!

Jenn

[DCJenn]

OK-

Here's the website that Amrit orders our teas from:

http://www.a-healing.com

Go to the teas section and look under bulk- it's the cinnamon spice 1 pound bag. It has Cinnamon, Cardamom, Ginger Root, cloves and Black Pepper. I just made a big batch last night. The directions are on the website as well.

Jenn

[PrincessFiona]

soy milk

Have you ever used soymilk before, Jenn? I have heard that if you use vanilla flavored soy milk that you can't tell the difference???

Kris

[DCJenn]

Kris-

I wouldn't go quite that far- but I do like soymilk. Vanilla is the way to start for sure but I really like the taste! The difference is in texture as much as anything.


Jenn

A little late ...

Hi ... I know that is has been a while since anyone posted to this thread, but I wanted to add to the chai discussion. My DH is Indian and we make chai with milk. Here is the simplest way to make it.

In a small saucepan, add 2 cups of water (if you want to make 4 servings of chai). Add 4 heaping teaspoons of loose tea (as far as loose tea, the easiest to find is Lipton's Loose Tea, but there are bunches of varieties). Add 2 or 3 whole cardamom (opened), 1 small piece of whole cinnamom (broken), 2 or 3 whole cloves, and a 1/2 piece of fresh ginger if you have it (we always have fresh ginger since I cook Indian food 90% of the time).

Bring this to a boil for 3 to 5 minutes. Lower to medium heat and simmer for 3 to 5 minutes. Add evaporated milk. Depending on the strength of the tea leaves you used, you will add more or less milk. You are looking for the "right" color ... almost like coffee with milk but a little "warmer." Bring the mixture to a boil, watching it closely so it doesn't boil over. Serve this hot.

In some families they add the sugar to the whole batch, using about 2 teaspoons per cup of chai. In my DH's family, they serve it without sugar and give each person the chance to add as little or as much sugar as they want.

If you don't finish the chai right away a film will develop on the top; before serving another cup, bring the mixture back up to a boil and skim off the film.

That's about it. This is the "basic" chai ... some family add other spices (either peppercorns), but of all the chai I have drank since I married, this is the one I have had the most often.

Aisha

Mmmmm chai...I love it!

Oh, I really do like Chai..from Starbucks and from Borders. I love Chai with vanilla and cinnamon. Once I found the Chai, I stopped drinking coffee.