Masala Chai is a very strong tea flavored with a lot of Indian spices. You might have tried it at your neighborhood coffee shop, but this is an authentic recipe I got from my husband's late grandmother. Everyone called her Baji.
The first time I had some, I stayed up all night, and not knowing what to do, I cleaned, ironed, vacuumed and shopped online. I finally collapsed in exhaustion the next morning at 10 a.m. So beware if like me, you're not used to too much caffeine, it's very strong! Or drink it in the morning. Enjoy!
Ingredients
2 sticks cinnamon, broken in half
30 cardamom pods, crushed with a mallet
4 cloves
1 (2-inch) chunk fresh ginger (optional), thinly sliced
5 cups organic whole milk
1 can evaporated milk
8 black tea bags
Preparation
Fill a large pot with water. Add the cinnamon, cardamom, cloves and ginger and bring to a boil. Cover and turn the heat to low and simmer for about 10 minutes.
Add the milk, evaporated milk and sugar and bring to a simmer again. Add the tea bags, cover, and turn off the heat. Let the tea steep for no more than 4 minutes otherwise the tea will release its acidity.
Strain the tea and serve immediately. It should be hot and fragrant. I also like to add a dash of heavy cream (Don't feel guilty, just enjoy the creaminess)
Serve with tea cakes or cookies.
Time to relax and enjoy!
Tips
Check out the Vietnamese-style Coffee that I made few weeks ago.
I use PG Tips brand. That's the brand that my father-in-law grew up on back in India. He orders it off of Amazon.com.
You can sweeten the tea with sugar in the raw, white sugar or splenda.
I use Carnation brand evaporated milk.
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About Jackie
Hi! My name is Jacqueline Pham and I am a self-taught home cook based in the San Francisco Bay Area. I am French-Vietnamese, born and raised in Paris, France. I live with my husband Lulu and his family.
My hubby's family is from India, so our home is a melting pot of cultures and cuisines with all the rewards and challenges that you can imagine. There are vegetarians, meat-lovers and allergies of every kind. This site is a way for me to share my love of food and interact with all you Femme Fatales out there putting food on the table for your loved ones everyday.
