Nikolas's Chai

 
For Christmas, my little brother had made me some chai tea mix. I love Chai tea, and buying a brewed cup at a coffee shop will run me around 4 bucks. A nice treat? Yes. Affordable? No.


I brew Nikolas's blend on days where I want a treat, but don't want to go out and pick up a cup. Plus, the flavor is actually better than the stuff you can get at a coffee shop. It takes some time to brew, so at our house it's made on a lazy Sunday morning or another day when we don't have to be anywhere.

Ingredients (for the chai mix):

3 oranges
1/2 c cardamom pods
12 cinnamon sticks, crushed
2 tbsp whole cloves
2 tbsp black peppercorns
2 tbsp allspice berries
1 tbsp coriander seeds
1/4 c. whole star anise

To make the tea mix, you'll need to dry the oranges. Line a baking sheet with parchment, and then place 1/8" slices of oranges on the sheet. Place the sheet in a 200 degree oven for 2-3 hours. Once dried and cool, combine with the rest of the spices. Store in an airtight container for up to 6 months. This makes enough for 36 2-cup servings.

Ingredients (for the cup of chai):

1 1/4 c. milk, I used vanilla Almond Milk
2 tbsp chai mix (above)
3/4 c. water
1 tbsp honey
1 1/2 tbsp loose black tea

To brew a cup, add the milk, chai mix, water, and honey in a pot. Simmer for 25 minutes. Add loose black tea and brew for 5 minutes. Strain and serve. This makes 2 cups.

This recipe is based on this recipe.