Indian Masala Chai (Hot Drinks)

Member Name: aksram

Product:	Hot Drinks
Date:	15/06/09 (37 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: tasty, medicinal value- relieves cold

Disadvantages: cant think of any

Tea is by far the most popular drink consumed in Britain today, with over 165,000,000 cups being drunk in the UK every single day of the year. Chai is basically black tea brewed with selected spices or herbs and milk.

Indian Masala Chai
Ingredients:

3 - 4 Tea Spoons/4 Teabags of good tea (Tetley/Darjeeling/Lipton)
1 inch ginger- can be fresh, dry or powdered ginger
3 - 4 cardamom pods, crushed
3 Cloves
Small piece of cinnamon
1 tsp fennel seeds
1 or 2 whole black peppers (optional but spicier and tastier when added)
Sugar to taste
Milk -warmed
Brewing:

This is best done on a saucepan on hob instead of microwaving.
1) Boil 2 cups of water. Add all the ingredients and boil again for about 15 seconds. Let stand for a minute.
2) Add milk and sugar
3) Sieve it into cups

Because the spices are all fresh (not spice powders) the aroma and taste is excellent. Using Twinings tea bags is not recommended as it is very mild.

It does take a longer time (approx 15 minutes) to prepare than the normal tea.

It has some medicinal values too. It relieves cold and congestion.

Tea does refresh you even in hot weather- It simply raises the body temperature momentarily, you perspire and the perspiration on your skin creates a cooling effect.

Summary: Hot drink for a hot day!