Chai Tea

I love chai spices; cinnamon, cardamom, cloves, ginger, they are simply delicious. Unfortunately there are lots of nasty chai drinks being made involving sugary syrups or powders that are full of additives are fillers. The powders contain both gluten and milk products so are extremely unsuitable for anyone who is dairy and gluten intolerant like me.

The best chai teas are made from real tea leaves and added spices, cooked in milk and water and sweetened with honey. There are many combinations of chai teas, not unlike all the different spice mixes that make up 'curry powder' or 'garam masala'. You can buy lots of chai tea mixes, some of my faves are Byron Chai and Calmer Sutra Chai.

This is my recipe for 4 cups

4 tsp of black tea leaves
1 cinnamon stick broken in half
4 cardamom pods
4 whole cloves
2 star anise
5-6 slices of fresh ginger

500g water
500g rice or soy milk




Heat the water with the spices on 90 degrees speed 3 for approx 4-5mins until reaches temperature.
Add the milk and heat a further 4-5mins on 90 degrees on speed 3.
The timing depends on how cold the water or milk is.
Strain the chai in a plunger pot or through a fine sieve and serve with honey to sweeten.