Green Tea With Indian Chai Spices

ratherbeswimmin''s Note:

Nice warm-up on a wintry day.

• Total Time: 14 mins
• Prep Time: 10 mins
• Cook Time: 4 mins

Ingredients:

Servings: 2

• 4 green tea bags
• 4 whole white cardamom pods
• 4 allspice berries
• 6 whole black peppercorns
• 2 whole star anise
• 1 cinnamon stick (2 inches)
• 4 cups boiling water
• 1 teaspoon sugar (to taste)

Directions:

1. Place tea bags into a prewarmed large tea pot; set aside.
2. Crack open the cardamom pods using a mortar and pestle.
3. Discard the empty pods, but keep the tiny black seeds; add the remaining spices to the mortar and crush all into medium-size pieces.
4. Put the spices into a 4 cup heatproof measuring cup and add the boiling water; stir to mix, then let the spices infuse for 2 minutes.
5. Quickly pour the infusion into the teapot, straining carefully to prevent the spices from going into the teapot.
6. Steep the tea in the spice infusion for 2 minutes.
7. Add sugar to the teapot and stir to dissolve; strain the brewed tea into teacups and serve immediately.