Chai Tea

I LOVE Chai tea and was looking for a good recipe. A friend gave me one that I have modified, added to and made my own. I  love a cup on a cold morning. If you love Chai, I think you will like this!

4 Cups Water

4 T Loose Black Tea or

4 Tea Bags

3-4 T Evaporated Cane Juice or Rapadura

1 Toe of Fresh Ginger, grated or chopped

2-3 Cinnamon Sticks

8-10 Whole Cloves

1 tsp. Cardamom

1 tsp. Nutmeg

Pinch of Tumeric

Pinch of Black Pepper

1 tsp. Vanilla

Cream or Milk

Add water, Rapadura or other sweetener and spices to a 2-3qt pan and bring to a slow boil. After about 15-20 minutes, add  loose tea or tea bags and continue to simmer for another 10 minutes. Remove from heat and strain through a tight mesh strainer into a 4 cup measuring cup. Stir in vanilla. Some of your liquid may have boiled away. Add back enough hot water to make 4 cups of tea. Serve with 1/4 cup warm cream or milk in each cup. True Chai is creamy and sweet. You may use any sweetener you prefer, but I have found that adding a sweetener of your choice to your spices as they simmer helps to bring a  fuller body to the tea as opposed to adding stevia to unsweetened tea in your cup. Hope you enjoy this as much as I do! —Stephanie J.