Chai (East African Tea)

mel johnson's Note:

Real tea recipe from East Africa. So much better than packaged tea! And so easy to make.

• Total Time: 10 mins
• Prep Time: 0 mins
• Cook Time: 10 mins

Ingredients:

Servings: 6

• 6 cups water
• 7 teaspoons tea leaves
• 6 cups milk
• 10 -15 teaspoons sugar

Directions:

1. Heat together water and tea leaves in a 3 to 4 quart saucepan.
2. Boil 10 minutes. Add milk and heat to near boiling. Strain leaves. Add sugar to taste.

Reviews

[Bonn Amie]

I learned to enjoy tea when I first had it this way in East Africa. This is the only way I drink my tea! If I only want to make one cup, I microwave 1/2 big mug of milk (a bit more or less to taste) and then add the tea bag and hot water and a teaspoon of sugar. However, I have to say it tastes better when you make a full pot. I make it without the sugar and add sugar to taste for each mug as I drink it. I have to agree though, the quality of the tea makes all the difference and I'm lucky enough to get my tea directly from Kenya!

[Chef #217295]

We have chai everyday in Kenya, 2 cups or more daily no matter how hot or cold the weather. The day doesnt start unless you have tea, you havent received a guest well if you havent offered tea. I would suggest some changes to the above recipe: you can use more water than milk, especially if you are using whole milk; and use about half a teaspoon of high grade Kenyan tea leaves or per cup, more or less depending on how strong you want it to be. It comes down to personal taste. A regular strength brew of chai should have a light caramel color (like cafe au lait or a latte). To take it to the next level, spice it up with a pinch or two of ginger powder, or better yet, tea masala spice mix (usually has ginger, cinnamon, cardamon, white pepper and cloves). Its all about good quality tea and enjoying it with those around you. (Have it after a meal, or with your breakfast, and you can imagine yourself with on a safari, or back from the beach, or meeting a friend for a cup of tea in the middle of your busy day in Nairobi. There, see, a virtual trip to Kenya, thanks to tea!) Wageni, mwakaribishwa Kenya, hakuna matata!