Holly’s Homemade Chai

Ingredients

• 12 cups water
• 4 cinnamon sticks
• 2-3 inches fresh peeled and sliced ginger
• 1 Tablespoon coriander seeds
• 1 1/2 teaspoons whole cardamom pods
• 1 1/2 teaspoons whole cloves
• 1 teaspoon whole peppercorns
• Tea (black tea or rooibos)
• 2 c Whole milk
• honey or sugar (fancy sugars like demerara and raw brown sugar work great here)

Instructions

1. Combine water, cinnamon, ginger, coriander, cardamom, cloves, and peppercorns in a large saucepan over medium-high heat. Bring to a boil. Boil 20 minutes, then reduce heat and simmer for 1 hour, adding more water as needed to maintain the same level. Add milk, more or less to taste, and bring back to a good simmer 15-20 minutes.
2. Add 9 tea bags (or loose tea equivalent to nine cups). Steep 5 minutes. Strain. Sweeten with whole milk and honey or sugar (sugar or honey will dissolve best if added while the chai is still hot) to taste. Serve hot or iced. Store in refrigerator up to a week.