Masala Chai Tea
Inspired by the wonderful Prana Chai of Melbourne.
Ingredients
150 grammes black tea – a fine Assam is a good choice (organic if you can)
1 tablespoon black peppercorns
1 tablespoon cardamom pods
1 tablespoon cloves (less if you normally find cloves overpowering0
2 tablespoons star anise, crushed into big bits
4 sticks cinnamon, crushed into fragments
2 tablespoons dried ginger root chopped into fragments (not powdered ginger as this will go straight down your throat and irritate it. Believe me…). If you don’t have this, you can simply add some chunks of fresh ginger when you make a pot of tea (no need to peel, just wash and chop)
Method
Combine all of the ingredients well and store in a glass jar.
Serve as you would any normal black tea.
Great with milk. Or not.
For a more authentic Indian preparation, add to milk in a pan and gently simmer for 5 minutes or so. Strain into your cup for a spicy, milky treat.
If you want to replicate the original Prana Chai more closely, add a teaspoon or two of honey tea the pot of tea.