Masala chai

Masala tea is a spiced Indian tea. It feels good to have it on a cold, rainy day. The spices also help boost immunity. The mortar and pestle that I use for grinding is made from stone and from my Mom's collection.

First set of spices :
Dried ginger powder  - 1/2 tsp
Cinnamon powder - 1/2 tsp

Second set of spices :
Cloves - 3
Black pepper - 4
Green cardamom - 3
Aniseed - 1

Milk - 1/2 cup
Water - 1/2 cup
Tea powder - 1 tsp

Use a mortar and pestle, to grind second set of spices (aniseed can be broken by hand into smaller pieces before grinding).

In a vessel, add the first and second set of spices, and then milk and water. Heat. When it boils and start to rise, add the tea powder. Allow it to boil for a minute so that spices infuse into the tea. Strain the tea into your cup.

Easy tip - You can make the tea, even if you have only some of the spices. The same recipe holds for spiced black tea. Just skip the milk.