Masala Chai... A heavenly brew

Yesterday, I was chatting with friends at Starbucks, when the subject of authentic Masala Chai came up.

Masala Chai is a wonderful, immensely satisfying hot Indian beverage, that is as popular in India as coffee is in the United States of America.

When you are especially feeling low or sickly, a cup of freshly brewed Masala Chai can do wonders for the soul.

Although you can buy ready made Masala Chai blends from supermarkets, brewing your own cuppa is quick and gratifying, and the results are so much superior.

Each ingredient imparts subtle flavour changes and together provide the perfect combination of taste and health. Black tea is naturally refreshing and is rich in antioxidants. The cinnamon, cloves and pepper are warming, and the cardamom and ginger assist natural digestion.

Here is how you can make a your very own Masala Chai from scratch.

Ingredients:

• 1.5 cups water
• 2 cups full milk
• 4 tbsp. black tea, preferably Darjeeling tea or Assamese tea
• 6 green cardamom pods
• 2 cinnamon sticks, broken into little pieces
• 10 cloves
• 1 tsp. whole black peppercorns
• 1.5" fresh ginger root, thinly sliced
• 6 tbsp. granulated brown sugar

Method:

• Freshness of spices is paramount for the best tasting Masala Chai, so grind the cardamom, cinnamon, cloves, pepper and ginger with a mortar and pestle or a spice grinder until fine
• Add the ground spice mixture to the water and bring to a boil for 2 minutes
• Then add the tea and sugar and boil for 3 minutes
• Reduce heat to medium and stir in the milk
• Simmer gently for 10 minutes to thoroughly infuse flavours, stirring occasionally to quell the foam
• Remove from heat, but allow to sit, covered snugly, for another 5 minutes
• Strain the delectable concoction into small cups