A note to Starbucks and all those other Chai imitators out there: there is more to Chai than cinnamon! Apparently you think that the most revered black tea in all of India is based on that simple over-used ingredient. Most mainstream coffee shops have bastardized the original Chai. Luckily, you have me. Here is my recipe for mama's Chai. Notice I am not saying Chai Tea. That is because in Hindi, chai actually means tea. So when you say chai tea you are being redundant and you sound like an idiot. Also, if you want to get real authentic, it is pronounced "chaa."
In a saucepan put
1/2 cup of water
1/2 cup of 1% or skim organic milk
1 teabag (orange pekoe)
5 pieces of cardamom (crack them a little but biting each piece with your teeth)
1 branch of cinnamon (or two pinches of cinnamon power)
1/2 a teaspoon of annis
1/2 a teaspoon of chopped fresh ginger
Bring ingredients to a boil and sweeten to taste.
Sinless Tip: Use an all-natural sweetening ingredient called Xylitol It is generally extracted from birch bark, doesn't require insulin to digest (which means you don't get a sugar rush...then crash), and is low in calories. Look it up for yourself.
Let me know how this turned out!
