A true Indian institution, the Chai, this decoction based on black tea and milk, rhythm the life of Indian who consume it at any time of the morning to stretch or in the day, the time of a short break. From the first hours of dawn, the chaiwallah (tea cook) starts to work ; a work that has everything of ballet’s dance when we observe it, both the technique is assured and the artistic gesture. Facing its stove, the chaiwallah boils the black tea first until it gets a concentrate that it then lengthens with hot and sweet milk. the result: a liquid cream with spicy aromas whose color varies from caramel to pink beige, to taste burning. Enhanced with cardamom, camel or saffron, there are as many recipes as chaiwallah and each chai is therefore unique.
Masala chai
Ingredients
-
- 1L of milk
- 6 tsp. of black tea
- 1 nut of ginger & stick of lemongrass
- 4 tablespoon. fresh mente, chopped
- 4 tbsp. of sugar
In a mortar, coarsely crush the ginger, the lemongrass and the fresh mente to release their essences. Pour these ingredients into a large saucepan, add 20 cL of water bring to a boil. Boil for about 10 minutes, then add the sugar. When it has melted, add the tea and milk. cook for another 10 minutes, turning from time to time so the milk does not escape. serve hot.
Vanilla chai
Ingredients
- 1/3 vanilla bean
- 2 teaspoons powdered tea
- 5 cups of water
- 1 cup of milk
- sugar
Boil the water with the vanilla split in half and scraped for 5/10 minutes. Add the milk and wait for the boiling to resume.Add the tea and boil for 10 seconds. Serve hot and sweeten according to your taste.
Spicy chai
Ingredients
- 2 teaspoons tea powder
- 5 cups water
- 1 cup milk
- 1 crushed cardamom pod
- 2 cloves
- 1 cinnamon stick
- 1 small piece of crushed ginger sugar
The traditional recipe
Boil the water with all the spices for 5 minutes. Add the tea and boil for another 10 seconds. Meanwhile, heat the milk.Filter the tea and pour the milk into the tea.Serve hot and sweeten according to your taste.
My simplified version
Boil the water with all the spices for 5 minutes.Add the milk and wait for the boiling to resume.Add the tea and boil for 10 seconds. Serve hot and sweeten according to your taste.