Strong, milky and fragrant: chai the way it's made at home in India. Ready in 10 minutes.
Serves 2 · 10 minutes
You'll need
- 250 ml water
- 250 ml full-cream milk
- 2 heaped tsp strong loose-leaf Assam tea
- 4 green cardamom pods, lightly crushed
- 2 cloves
- 1 small stick of cinnamon
- 2 cm fresh ginger, grated
- 2–3 tsp sugar, to taste
Method
- Bring the water to the boil with the cardamom, cloves, cinnamon and ginger. Simmer for 3 minutes until fragrant.
- Add the tea and simmer for 1 minute.
- Pour in the milk and sugar. Bring back to a gentle boil, letting it rise in the pot once or twice.
- Strain into cups and serve hot.
Tip: for a stronger brew, let the tea simmer in the milk for an extra minute before straining.