
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.
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.