Basic Black Chai Recipe

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Photo by Howard Lee Puckett
Derived from the Chinese chá, “chai” means tea in much of the world, including Asia, Eastern Europe, parts of Africa and Brazil.

Ingredients

  • 1-1⁄2 cups cold water
  • One 2-inch piece cinnamon stick, broken
  • 2 heaping teaspoons black tea
  • Seeds of 3 cardamom pods
  • One 1⁄4-inch-thick slice fresh ginger
  • 3 whole cloves
  • 2 black peppercorns
  • 1⁄4 to 1⁄2 cup milk
  • 1 to 2 tablespoons honey or sugar

Directions

  • Bring water to a boil in small saucepan. Add cinnamon, cover, remove from heat; steep 2 minutes. Return pan to heat; bring to a boil. Add tea, spices, milk, and honey or sugar; cover, and remove from heat. Steep 3 minutes.
  • Pour mixture through fine wire-mesh strainer into warm teapot, discarding solids. Garnish with cinnamon sticks.Discover more healing teas in Tea Time: 10 Herbal Teas for Health.
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Chai contains some of the world’s healthiest spices, including cinnamon, ginger and cloves. If you prefer, omit the milk and honey and offer them separately.

Basic Black Chai Recipe

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