EASY HERBAL CHAI TEA
I have to tell you, I never was in to
Chai tea until I made this one. Most Chai has black tea and that
contains too much caffeine for me. I actually took the idea from a box
of Celestial Seasonings Bengal Spice tea. I found that CS's teas have
some strange ingredients, so I figured I could work something out on my own.
This recipe is the final product for Easy Herbal Chai. Feel free to
alter it according to your taste. Also, the instruction make the recipe
look difficult, but believe me, once you try it, you will have it all the
time.
YOU
WILL NEED:
A pot for heating hot water - 1/2 cup
per person
A small pot for heating 1/2 & 1/2
or milk, optional but the best!
A small grinder or mortar and pestle
for crushing whole berries, etc.
Cups for two (or more by
doubling/tripling the recipe)
A tea strainer that fits on the top of
a cup, with or without a handle. A fine mesh type is best. If
you use a cloth, you will lose some
of the tea into the cloth.
INGREDIENTS (for
two cups):
1/2 tsp. cinnamon, ground
1 tsp chicory, ground like coffee
1 tsp chocolate nibs, ground or
6-10 grain-sweetened chocolate chips
1/4 tsp vanilla extract (not flavoring)
1/4 tsp ginger powder or dried ginger
minced pieces
1/8 tsp black peppercorns, crushed
1/8 tsp cloves, ground or crushed
1/8 tsp allspice, ground or crushed
1/8 tsp cardamom, ground or crushed,
optional
1/2 & 1/2 or milk - figure 1/2 tea
cup per person
Stevia, to taste (watch the additives
to some stevia products)
Water - figure 1/2 tea cup per
person - bring just to a boil
HOW TO:
Be sure to pre-grind or crush all
ingredients that are whole berries, etc.
(1) In the pot of hot water,
measured to the right amount per person, add the ingredients listed above,
except for the stevia and milk. Remove pot from heat.
(2) Allow this to steep for 10 minutes,
stirring occasionally. If using chocolate chips, be sure to stir them
into the water very well. They may stick to the bottom of the pot.
(3) Heat the 1/2 & 1/2 or milk
until hot, but not boiling.
(4) Add the stevia to the hot milk and
taste test with a spoon.
(5) Pour the herb tea through a
tea strainer into each cup. Allow 1/2 cup tea per person.
(6) Add the milk/stevia mixture to
the tea. Stir.
(7) If you decide to not use milk
or 1/2 & 1/2, just add more water to your pot and the stevia to the tea
and taste test.
We don't have this tea often; however,
it is great for an Erev Shabbat meal or when company comes and you want to
have something special. It is basically a dessert tea. If you
like, add a dollop of whipped cream to the top. Yum...
Enjoy,
Kathie