photo credit: mick / Lumix

I had two French girls visiting us recently, both interested to know how Chai (Indian Tea) was made. They even bought Indian Tea leaves so that they could try it out at home This one is for you Jessica and Grace ….. Enjoy your Chai!

Well, different people might make their tea in different ways… This is how I like my tea… strong with a bit of ginger in it!

Tea : 1 tsp

Sugar – to taste

Ginger – 1/2 inch piece crushed (optional)

Milk – 1/4 cup

Water – 1/2 cup

1. Boil water along with crushed ginger
2. Add milk, tea and sugar
3. Bring it to boil. Simmer the gas and let it stay for another 30 seconds
4. Strain the tea and enjoy !

* you can also put cardamom along with ginger or minus the ginger in step 1

* if you put tea masala to the water…you get masala tea! … just a pinch or maximum 1/4 tsp would do!

till next time….. happy cooking

photo credit: avlxyz

Ok! this one is for my European friends who love the Indian chai…and couldn’t stop missing it after their trips to India. Guys you can make it at home! its fairly simple so here goes!

Water – 3/4 cup

Milk – 1/4 cup (if using highly skimmed milk then make water and milk 1/2 cup each )

Tea dust / grains – 2 tsp (heaped)

Sugar – to taste

• Add milk to boiling water
• Add Tea dust and sugar and boil for 2-3 minutes
• Best way is when the chai boils and rises up, turn the gas to sim and again turn it to high allowing the chai to raise again. Repeat 3-4 times
• Strain the chai  in to a cup and serve hot with snacks or as is

For Ginger tea / chai

• Add fresh ginger piece (crushed) to water as it boils
• Do not try to substitute it with dry ginger powder etc

For Masala chai

• Crush nicely 1 green cardamom, 1/4 stick cinnamon,2 cloves, 1-2 black pepper
• Add 1/2 tsp of this masala to water while its boiling
• Retain the remaining masala (if any)  for the next us but freshly ground masala always tastes better

Till next time…. enjoy your Indian chai !