Chai Masala

Photo: Down to Earth Recipes
Here is a chai spice blend you can use to make an extraordinary chai tea anytime you like. Tumeric is added to help fend off colds.
Yield
4 cups
Ingredients

For Spice Blend:

  • 1 Tablespoon of whole black peppercorns
  • 9 cinnamon sticks (3 inches) broken into pieces
  • 1 Tablespoon of whole cloves
  • 1/2 Tablespoon of fennel seeds
  • 2 Tablespoons whole green cardamom pods
  • 2 Tablespoons ground ginger
  • 1 teaspoon turmeric powder

For Chai Tea:

  • 4 cups water
  • 1 teaspoon of Chai Masala Spice Mix
  • 2 black tea bags (or green tea, or other tea varieties)
  • Sweetener to taste - stevia, honey, sugar, etc.
  • 1/2 cup of almond, rice, soy or dairy milk
Instructions
  1. To make the chai spice mix, put all the ingredients in a spice grinder, nut mill, or the dry jug of a powerful blender like a Vitamix. Process to a fine powder. Sift, if desired, to get an even finer powder.
  2. Store in an airtight container. It will keep for six months.
  3. To make chai tea, boil the water in a large saucepan. Add the tea bags, 1 teaspoon of the chai masala spice mix and boil for 3-5 minutes.
  4. Add stevia or another sweetener (they say that not adding too much is one of the secrets to a good chai.) Stir in the milk.
  5. Serve! Enjoy!