March 20, 2012

Chai Tea for Now...or Later

As I mentioned yesterday, I want to share a Chai tea recipe. Not only because I love chai tea but I've been promising my Aunt a recipe for a few years. (I am a procrastinator.) I had given my whole family chai tea fixins (that's Southern for "ingredients") in canning jars for Christmas one year. Aunt Sharon asked for the recipe, which I didn't have, since I just made it up...as usual. How do you write down "a little of this and a little of that" and expect someone to follow it? When I saw this recipe on Lavender and Lime, I knew it might get me out of the dog house. Will you forgive me now Aunt Sharon??
Chai Tea Mix
Ingredients
1 tsp ground ginger
1 tsp cloves
2 tsp green cardamom pods
1 Tbsp cinnamon
1 tsp anise seeds
1/4 tsp peppercorns
1/4 tsp allspice
1/2 tsp ground nutmeg
6 c water
10 black tea bags
1 c sugar (use more or less according to your taste)
2 c water
milk

Bring all the spices and 6 cups of water to a boil. Add tea bags and let steep until very strong tea is made. Remove tea bags and add sugar, stirring until dissolved. Add 2 cups more of cold water. Store this concentrate in the fridge in a closed pitcher.

Pour concentrate into a mug, filling halfway. Fill the rest of the way with milk and heat in microwave.

My kids request hot tea often, for afternoon snack or for special occasions, but they LOVE chai tea. Super Bear even requested it for his Secret Agent birthday party.

This makes a great gift  - end-of-the-year teacher gifts, new mom, get well, etc. Just change the colors I used that Christmas long ago and make it whatever colors you like. To make chai tea into a gift, bag the spices together. Fill a container with the sugar in the bottom. Lay the tea bags on top of a square of wax paper. I wrapped mine in colored tissue paper to jazz it up. Add the spice bag on the top. Tie a ribbon around the container with instructions. Your container could even be a pretty pitcher to keep the concentrate in!!

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6 comments:

  1. I love this recipe and the fact you can make it into gifts is perfect :) Thanks for the blog love!

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    Replies
    1. What can I say? It was easy to choose from such wonderful recipes Tandy!! Thank you for redeeming me with my Aunt.

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  2. How pretty Aimee! I wish I could sit down with you and have a chat and a cup of this lovely sounding tea!

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    Replies
    1. Chris, It's a date! Just tell me when and I'll bring the chai and you can bring those amazing looking quinoa patties.

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  3. I adore chai too (especially dirty chais----with extra shots of espresso), but I have never made the mix. Hope your aunt forgives you! :)

    Also, please stop by Eliot's Eats tomorrow. I have a surprise for you. http://eliotseats.com/?p=8871 (It won't post until around 5:00 a.m.)

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    Replies
    1. Thank you again for the award, you are too kind. I have NEVER heard of dirty chais. Sounds kinda kinky! So you just add a shot of espresso to the chai tea?

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