Homemade Gift Ideas – Chai Tea Mix

Post date: Oct 16, 2017 7:59:07 PM

Ingredients (makes about 3/4 cup)

12 cardamom pods

1/2 tsp black peppercorns

1 tbsp fennel seeds

1/2 tsp coriander seeds

1/2 tsp cloves

4cm stick of cinnamon

2 tbsp crystalised ginger, chopped

1/2 cup loose black tea (use the cheap stuff, as you don’t want a strong flavour).

Method

Preheat the oven to 175C (350F). Split the cardamom pods open using a sharp knife. Mix together with the cinnamon, cloves, coriander seeds, fennel seeds and peppercorns. Place mixture on a baking tray and toast in the oven until fragrant (around 5 minutes).

Allow spices to cool slightly, then crush them using a mortar and pestle (or whatever heavy object you have on hand). Don’t use a food processor, as you might scratch it (don’t ask me how I know that!). Separate the cinnamon stick and crumble it with your fingers. Place spices with ginger and black tea in a bowl and mix well.

Store in an airtight container until you are ready to use.

To brew a cup of chai tea, place about 2 tsp of the mixture into a tea ball

. Pour 1 cup of boiling water into a mug and steep the tea ball for around 5 minutes. Remove the tea ball and add 1/2 cup of milk (of your choice). I chose to drink it like that, but you can also heat it again (either on the stove or in the microwave) to make it nice and hot after adding the milk. Add sugar or honey to taste (Again, I didn’t have to do that because it was sweet enough for me with the sugar from the ginger).

Enjoy!

**From: http://www.economiesofkale.com/2012/12/homemade-gift-ideas-chai-tea-mix/ **