Masala Tea:
(serves 4 - or 1, if you're anything like me)
3T loose tea (e.g., Wagh Bakri Premium International Blend, available at international foods stores) OR 5 tea bags Lipton, Tetley, etc.
1-2" stick of cinnamon
1/4t nutmeg
9 cloves OR 1t ground cloves
7 green cardamom pods, cracked
1c. water
Put all in pot --> boil 2'.
Add 4.5c milk (the higher the fat content, the better) --> boil 2'.
Add sugar to taste.
Notes:
Lipton, Tetley, etc. are milder tasting and less caffeinated. If you use Wagh Bakri (or some other international blend geared towards Indian consumers), be prepared for a much stronger - and much more caffeinated - tea. (If using international tea, I recommend this as a breakfast or midday tea. It is way too strong to have before bed. I speak from experience - I, who am usually immune to the effects of caffeine before bed.)
After adding milk, SLOWLY bring to boil. The slower you do this, the less "skin" you'll have to skim off later.
Be careful, as milk will quickly go from barely simmering to full-on boiling over.
Once the pot has almost boiled over (but you have rescued it, you kitchen wonder you!), temper the heat so you can let the pot actively boil 2'.
After 2' of boiling, cut the heat and let the pot rest there on the burner. It will steep as it slowly stops boiling, and will also allow more of the skin to form (= easier to remove that way).
You will want to pour this into your mug via a strainer/sieve. This will catch all of the loose bits as well as much of the skin.
Having tasted the mass-produced chai, (Tazo, I am talking about YOU here!), you'll notice some companies include ginger in their tea. It's purely preference if you want to include it or not. However, I don't have any recommendations on what form or how much to use, so you'll have to 1) experiment, b) University of Google it, iii) ask me to make up some wildly unfounded guess (or ask me to University of Google it), or cuatro) go without.*
*Now I'm feeling all lazy. Here, try this: 1/4" fresh ginger OR 1t ginger (powdered spice). Don't say I never gave you anything.
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