Recipe: Masala Chai

Chai tea, also known as Masala chai is a blend of black tea with milk and Indian spices. According to many health experts, this drink is good for you, as it contains powerful antioxidants.

Christmas Idea #2

Great on a cold snowy Christmas day

Water is first boiled together with the spices, ginger and vanilla bean (if you don't have vanilla bean, you can use 1/2 tsp vanilla extract). Then, honey and black tea is added. Usually a strong black tea such as Assam is used. In this recipe, honey is used instead of sugar, hence making this a more healthy as honey contains more nutrients than sugar. It is stated as an optional ingredient in this recipe, you can omit it altogether or just add as sweet as you like it, but I think 1/3 cup of honey is just nice.

I am a girl who loves the smell of spices, so when the spices were boiling away, the kitchen smelt mighty inviting. Martha Stewart's chai tea is mildly spiced and fragrant, with a little heat from the ginger. Personally, I like the taste of cardamom and ginger, so I added a bit more the next few times I made it.

For those who like Taiwanese milk tea, I think you will like this too as this is also a milky tea with a lovely aroma. This is also a wonderful drink to serve after Christmas dinner or with desserts.

Breathe in the lovely aroma of the tea before enjoying

Chai Tea with Milk

Recipe adapted from Martha Stewart
Preparation time:  3-5 minutes
Cooking time: 18 minutes
Serves 4

Ingredients
10 whole green cardamom pods, lightly crushed
5 whole cloves
2 cinnamon sticks
1 piece fresh ginger (about 2 inches), peeled and quartered
1/2 vanilla bean, split lengthwise and scraped (or 1/2 tsp vanilla extract)
1/3 cup honey, plus more for serving (optional - depending on how sweet you like it)
4 bags black tea
1 1/2 cups milk (I use full-cream)
3 cups water


1. Place 3 cups water in a small saucepan and add cardamom, cloves, cinnamon, ginger, and vanilla bean and scrapings. Bring to a boil over high heat. Reduce heat to low; simmer until mixture is aromatic, about 15 minutes.

2. Turn off heat and whisk in honey (do not use a metal spoon) and drop tea bags in pan. Let steep for 3 minutes.

3. Strain tea through a fine strainer or a coffee filter into a warmed serving pot.

4. Heat milk in same saucepan over medium-high heat, about 3 minutes. Do not let milk come to a boil because it will separate. Pour into serving pot with the tea, and stir well to combine. Serve immediately, with more honey on the side if desired.

Wonderfully soothing

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