Indian Masala tea

If you are cold, tea will warm you; if you are too heated, it will cool you; if you are depressed, it will cheer you; if you are excited it will calm you. ~William Ewart Gladstone

One of the life's simple pleasures lies in sipping a hot cup of freshly brewed tea leaves with fragrant spices and condiments and biting a spicy VADA PAV , KACHORI OR FRITTERS on a cold winter day.

Sharing today traditional Indian masala chai recipe.

Ingredients:

• 20-25 green cardamom
• 1/4 th cup ground dry ginger powder/sounth
• 20-25 black pepper corn
• 10 -12 cloves
• 1 stick cinnamon
• 1 star anise(optional)
• 1/2 tsp fennel seeds(optional)
• 1/4 tsp nutmeg powder(optional)

Directions:

• Grind all the  spices mentioned above in a blender to a fine powder.
• Store in an air tight bottle.
  

For making masala tea:

• 3/4th cup of water
• Sugar to taste
• 1 tsp tea leaves
• 1 tsp chai masala
• A small piece ginger (crushed)
• 2-3 basil leaves(optional)
• 1/4th cup milk

Directions:
Boil water in a pan, add sugar, tea leaves, chai masala powder  along with crushed ginger and basil  leaves. Boil it for 3-4 minutes on low flame, add milk and boil for another 3-4 minutes.
Serve hot. 

For iced tea lovers  try  these refreshing flavours orange spiced tea or Earl grey & rose iced tea or Peach & apple iced tea