Masala chai is perfect on a cold grey day when the daylight hours are in short supply.

Chai is the word for tea in much of South Asia. Masala Chai is chai/tea brewed with spices. I

remember drinking a very gingery sweet tea after my first overnight train journey in India during

their winter, and very delicious and welcome it was too. The exact recipes for masala chai vary

by region and can be made with various different spices, though this recipe combines some of

the most popular into one delicious hot drink...

Ingredients:

250 ml water

125 ml milk

2-3 tsp black tea leaves (Kenya CTC, Assam, Bellevue Belter)

1 cardamom pod, crushed

1 Clove

1/2 inch piece of root ginger, grated

1/4 inch piece of Cinnamon stick

Sugar to taste

Put water, milk and spices in a saucepan and bring to a boil.

When it begins to boil, add the tea leaves and keep on a rolling boil for 2 minutes or till the tea

leaves are brewed and the tea has a dark golden colour. Add sugar to taste. Strain the tea into a

mug.

The beauty of this recipe is that the quantities of spices and tea in this recipe are only guidelines

– it could have more ginger and no cinnamon. I think it needs sweetening but maybe you

don’t.......

How do you like your masala chai?