Ingredients

The following ingredients have 2 Servings
  • 5-7 green cardamom pods
  • 3-4 whole cloves
  • 1-2 star anise (optional )
  • 5-7 peppercorns (optional)
  • 1 cup of water
  • 2-3 slices ginger (or more! skins ok)
  • ½ cinnamon stick– split lengthwise ( use your fingers to separate)
  • 1-2 tablespoons loose leaf black tea, (or 1-2 tea bags) Or sub decaf black tea
  • 1 cup milk of your choice- organic whole milk, almond milk, oat milk, soy milk, cashew milk, hemp milk ( I like unsweetened, vanilla-flavored almond or oat milk) See notes for “ratio”.
  • 2-3 teaspoons (or more or less) maple syrup, honey, sugar or alternative. (Sugar is traditional, but I prefer maple. )

Instruction

  • Lightly crush cardamom pods, whole cloves, star anise and peppercorns, and place in a small pot with 1 cup of water. Add ginger and cinnamon.  Muddle the ginger a bit right in the pot.
  • Bring to a simmer, simmer gently for 5-10 minutes covered, and turn off the heat.
  • Add the tea (Do not boil the tea, it can get bitter) and let it steep for at least 5-minutes.
  • Add your choice of milk. Bring to a simmer once more, turn off the heat.
  • Stir in your choice of sweetener, taste, adding more sweetener to taste. If it tastes bitter, you need more sweetener.  Strain into a chai glass or mug.
  • Feel the love. xoxo