Masala Tea (Chai)
Grrrrrgh!
Course : Curry
From: HungryMonster.com
Serves: 8
 

Ingredients:

  Amount  Measure       Ingredient -- Preparation Method
--------  ------------  --------------------------------
   6      cups          cold water
     1/3  cup           milk -- or to taste
   1      stick         cinnamon -- (3 inch)
   6      whole         green cardamom pods
   4                    whole         cloves
  12                    black peppercorn -- optional
  12      teaspoons     sugar -- or to taste
   6      teaspoons     leaf tea -- (heaping) -or-
   9      teaspoons     bags -- (orange pekoe)
 

Preparation:

Combine water and milk in a deep pan, and bring to a boil. Add the spices and sugar. Stir to blend, and turn off the heat. Cover the pan and let the spices soak for at least 10 minutes. Add the tea leaves or tea bags and bring the water to a second boil. Reduce heat and simmer, covered, for 5 minutes. Uncover, check the color and taste, and if desired add more milk and sugar. Strain the tea into a warm teapot and serve immediately. Note: This is the way traditional spiced tea is made. You may, however, omit the milk or sugar, or both, in which case reduce the quantity of tea to 2 heaping teaspoons or 3 tea bags.