Masala Chai

Ingredients

• 1L whole milk, full-fat
• 20g Darjeeling black tea leaves, loose
• 10g fresh ginger, peeled, crushed
• 5 green cardamom pods, lightly crushed
• 3 cloves
• 1 black cardamom pod
• 5ml honey, raw
• 3ml jaggery, grated
• 2 cinnamon sticks, 3cm pieces
• Pinch saffron threads, bloomed in 15ml warm milk
• Salt, to taste
• Whole milk or condensed milk, for serving

Method

1. 1
   Bring 1L water to boil in heavy-bottomed pot; add ginger, all cardamom, cloves, cinnamon, and black cardamom; simmer 3 minutes.
2. 2
   Add Darjeeling tea leaves; steep 3 minutes, then strain through fine sieve into separate pot, pressing solids gently.
3. 3
   Return tea to heat; add whole milk and bring to gentle boil, stirring occasionally.
4. 4
   Remove from heat; stir in jaggery, honey, bloomed saffron with milk, and pinch of salt.
5. 5
   Pour through fine strainer into cups; serve hot with whole milk swirled on top.