DRIED GINGER MASALA CHAI

Dried Ginger Masala Chai image

Provided by Leena Trivedi-Grenier

Yield 4 servings

Number Of Ingredients 6

32 green cardamom pods, coarsely crushed in a mortar and pestle
1 tsp. ground ginger
1 tsp. whole black peppercorn, coarsely crushed in a mortar and pestle
2 Tbsp. CTC Assam tea (such as Red Label, Tea India, 24 Mantra Organic, or Wagh Bakri)
3 cups milk, dairy or plant-based
4 tsp. granulated sugar or jaggery, divided, or to taste.

Steps:

To a 5-qt pot, add 3 cups water, cardamom pods and seeds, ginger, and pepper and bring to a rolling boil over high heat. Then add tea and boil for 4-5 minutes until the water looks darker.
Add milk and let boil until the foam almost overflows the pot. (Not all plant-based milk will rise when it boils. If yours doesn't, keep it at a rolling boil for 30 seconds before continuing with the recipe.) Place a wooden spoon across the pot to avoid bubbling over, and lower heat briefly. When foam has settled, return to medium heat, continuing to boil for a total of 10 minutes from the time that milk was added, until the liquid has reduced by ⅓ and has a deep tan color. If the foam continues to rise, lower heat slightly.
Remove from heat. Using a strainer, strain tea into 4 teacups. (For a frothy chai, pour the chai from one cup to another a few times until bubbles form.) Add about 1 tsp. sugar (or more to taste) per cup, and serve immediately.
Variations
Swap or add in one or all of these spices to make a different cup of chai: 2 tsp. dried mint, 8 cloves (coarsely crushed), one 4-inch cinnamon stick (crushed into smaller pieces).