Chai (चाय) is central to Indian culture. It is a morning ritual, an offering to welcome guests, a cure for maladies ranging from fevers to sore throats and indigestion and an excuse to break. India is the world’s largest consumer of tea, and the second-largest producer of black tea.
In Hindi Essential lesson 9, you learned that चाय का समय means time for a tea break. When it’s your time for a tea break, treat yourself to a piping cup of chai using the recipe below.
Ingredients (yields 1 serving):
- 1 cup water
- 1 tablespoon loose black tea
- a pinch of ground cardamom or four crushed cardamom pods
- a pinch of ground cinnamon or one cinnamon stick
- 1 teaspoon chopped fresh ginger (optional)
- star anise (optional)
- 1 tablespoon honey (adjust to taste)
- 1/4 cup milk of choice
Instructions:
- Pour water and black tea in a pot over medium heat. Add cardamom, cinnamon and ginger.
- When the water reaches boiling, add the milk and honey and reduce the flame to low.
- When the mixture comes to a boil, reduce heat and let it summer for another minute or two, stirring to avoid burning the milk.
- Strain into a cup and enjoy!
