Soothing Masala Chai Latte

[DeletedAccount53]

Here is a lovely Masala Chai recipe that is authentically Indian. I've been enjoying this for a long time, but lately reduced the number of black peppercorns and cardamoms because for me, the spices are a bit too strong. Lovely to sip any time, or on a cold rainy day or just when you want to be cheered up.

The recipe was adapted from Amrta Siddhi cooking class. Reference: http://yummysupper.blogspot.com/2011...hai-latte.html

Serves 4, or makes 2 big lattes.

Have fun playing around with the spices and flavour combinations until you get a chai that you love. Who needs to buy packaged chai after knowing how easy it really is to make yourself.


Ingredients:

3 cups water

1 tablespoon fresh ginger, peeled and grated

6 cardamom pods, crushed in mortar and pestle

1/2 teaspoon cinnamon powder

2 pinches fresh grated nutmeg

6 pieces star anise

8 black peppercorns

1 1/2 cup milk

Assam or Darjeeling tea - 6 teaspoons of loose tea, or 6 tea bags

Sugar, as desired (I like to add a couple of tablespoons of coconut sugar into the spice mixture) or failing that, jaggery sugar.


Optional for serving: cinnamon stick and star anise.

Place water, ginger, cardamom, cinnamon powder, nutmeg, star anise, and black peppercorns in a medium sauce pan over medium high heat.

When the liquid comes to a boil, add milk. Let everything return to a boil. Then add tea and simmer for 1 minute.

Pour your chai through a strainer into a clean bowl or a metal pitcher like the photo below. Then pour the chai back into a clean pot/bowl. If you continue to pour the chai back and forth like this a few times, you will froth the milk a bit - thus the "latte." Maman found out that in India, which is the technique the chai vendors use. Clever.

[Dawn.]

I love Chai Lattes so I might have to give this a try.

[DeletedAccount53]

Originally Posted by Flight.

I love Chai Lattes so I might have to give this a try.

It's well worth it! I've never been enthusiastic of coffee-shop chai, preferring to make it the traditional way that is made in India. Having carefully scaled the exact spices to make this deeply satisfying brew, it's not difficult to make.

What I love so much about it is that the tea is actually brewed in milk and water in a saucepan on the stove – so it stays piping hot until ready to be drunk, rather than cooling down as it steeps in a teapot. Some affectionados use as much as a tablespoon of sugar, but for me that is way too much! I don’t measure, but it should have the sweetness of, say, hot cocoa to enhance its flavour, but absolutely no more.

[Everglow.]

This sounds really yummy, I've never had anything like this before. I bet all of the spices in it are really good for you too. Might have to give this one a go at some point. Thanks for sharing!

[Dawn.]

Originally Posted by Pork Chops

It's well worth it! I've never been enthusiastic of coffee-shop chai, preferring to make it the traditional way that is made in India. Having carefully scaled the exact spices to make this deeply satisfying brew, it's not difficult to make.

What I love so much about it is that the tea is actually brewed in milk and water in a saucepan on the stove – so it stays piping hot until ready to be drunk, rather than cooling down as it steeps in a teapot. Some affectionados use as much as a tablespoon of sugar, but for me that is way too much! I don’t measure, but it should have the sweetness of, say, hot cocoa to enhance its flavour, but absolutely no more.

I've become accustomed to the Western Chai Lattes.

[DeletedAccount53]

Originally Posted by Flight.

I've become accustomed to the Western Chai Lattes.

What exactly is a Western Chai Latte? Is it from a packet or made in a pan? When the weather is blowing a hooley and it's tanking down, a nice mug of anything tea hits the spot, but a masala chai is just soothing for the soul.

[Dawn.]

Originally Posted by Pork Chops

What exactly is a Western Chai Latte? Is it from a packet or made in a pan? When the weather is blowing a hooley and it's tanking down, a nice mug of anything tea hits the spot, but a masala chai is just soothing for the soul.

It's what the cafes all make lol.

[DeletedAccount53]

Originally Posted by Flight.

It's what the cafes all make lol.

Caffs probably wouldn't have the time to make masala chai latte the traditional way because queues after often outside the door.

Do you like coffee? There are many high quality Arabica beans on the market to make a flavoursome brew, only not being too high in caffeine.

We bought some ready-made in a packet by Tea Pigs. It was so gross that it went on a one way to the bin. So tonight I made the original recipe with the spices for Julie and Tommy, and we sat in a round and slurped it out of bowls. it's the only way to enjoy this deeply comforting brew, and we know the recipe so well that making it comes second nature.