Masala Tea (Chai)

Ingredients	Quantity
Cold water	6 cups
Milk	1/3 cup or to taste
Cinnamon stick 3”	1 piece
Green cardamom pods	6 whole
Whole cloves	4
Black pepper corns – optional	12
Sugar	12 tsp or to taste
Leaf tea (heaping)	6 tsp
Or
Bags (orange pekoe)	6 tsp

Combine water and milk in a deep pan, and bring to a boil. Add the spices and sugar. Stir to blend, and turn off the heat. Cover the pan and let the spices soak for at least 10 minutes. Add the tea leaves or tea bags and bring the water to a second boil. Reduce heat and simmer, covered, for 5 minutes. Uncover, check the color and taste, and if desired add more milk and sugar. Strain the tea into a warm teapot and serve immediately. Note: This is the way traditional spiced tea is made. You may, however, omit the milk or sugar, or both, in which case reduce the quantity of tea to 2 heaping teaspoons or 3 tea bags.

Masala Coffee (Spiced Coffee)

Ingredients	Quantity
Milk	3 cups
Water	3 cups
Cinnamon stick 1”	1 piece
Cardamom pods	5
Sugar	6 tbsp
Coffee – regular grind	6 tbsp

Combine water and milk in a saucepan and bring to a boil.

Add cinnamon, cardamom pods, sugar and coffee into boiling liquid in saucepan. Stir a few times and boil over medium heat 3 to 4 minutes. Make sure it does not boil over.

Strain coffee through cheesecloth into another pan.

Place coffee over heat and bring to a boil.

Pour coffee between two pans until thick and creamy. Serve in cups immediately.

Masala Chai - Essence

Ingredients	Quantity
Whole coriander	4 tsp
Star anise	1
Cinnamon stick – broken	2 sticks
Whole black pepper corns	1 tsp
Allspice	1 tsp
Cardamom pods	1 tsp
Cloves	1 tsp
Dried orange peel	1 tsp
Ground ginger	1 tsp
Ground nutmeg	½ tsp
Water	3 quarts
Indian black tea leaves	2 tbsp
Vanilla extract	1 tbsp
Honey, milk or cream	to taste

This East Indian blend is spicy and soothing

In a small bowl combine coriander anise, cinnamon, peppercorns, all spice, cardamom, cloves, and orange peel. In a spice mill or coffee grinder, coarsely grind the spices. Mix in the ginger and nutmeg. Pour the water into a one gallon pot and add the spice mixture. Bring to a boil, cover, and simmer for 15 minutes. Add tea and vanilla and steep 3 to 5 minutes. Strain the liquid into a large pitcher. You may want to add honey, milk, or cream, or wait and offer these to your guests on the side. Tea can be served hot or chilled.

Makes 3 quarts.

Masala Chai

Ingredients	Quantity
Whole cloves	4
Cardamom pods	2
Cinnamon stick – broken up	1
Water	3 cups
Ground ginger	¼ tsp
Freshly ground pepper	1/8 tsp
Milk	½ cup
Granulated sugar	2 tbsp
Black tea	2 tbsp

In a mortar, crush the cloves, cardamom pods and cinnamon. Transfer the crushed spices to a small saucepan, add the water, ginger and pepper and bring to a boil. Remove the pan from the heat, cover and let steep for 5 minutes.

Add the milk and sugar to the pan and bring to a boil. Remove from the heat and add the tea. Cover and let steep for 3 minutes. Stir the chai, then strain it into a warmed teapot or directly into teacups.