Masala Chai cuppa

I enjoyed Indian Chai tea over this festive season. It has the festive aromatic taste - of cinnamon, cardomom, ginger and cloves. As the ancient Ayurvedic tea, it (apparently) offers healing benefits to improve digestion and metabolism. Ummm. Nice recipes on this site....., have this cuppa after a feast, and you'll be able to eat more..... !

Found this genuine recipe online (from Madhur Jaffrey's Indian Cooking) - slightly arranged.

M A S A L A C H A I (2 big cups)

2 & 1/2 cups water
6 teaspoons loose Assam tea - unperfumed
3-4 Slices of ginger root (optional)
15 whole cloves
15 cardomom pods
2 inch stick of cinnamons
1 1/3 cup milk
8 tsp. sugar (or to taste)

Add ginger (optional), the cloves, cardomom, and cinnamons to water in saucepan, and bring to a boil- then cover the pan, turn heat to low and simmer for another 8 to 10 minutes. Add the milk and sugar and bring to a simmer again. Throw in the tea leaves, cover, and turn off the heat. After 2 minutes, strain the tea into two cups and serve immediately.

For those who don't bother doing this, even 'Twinings' offers Chai teabags. Organic 'Yogi Tea' range is pretty cool, it offers Egyptian Ayurvedic tea - nice spices.