Spiced Ginger Tea Food

SPICED GINGER TEA

Steps:

• Combine first 5 ingredients in heavy large saucepan. Cover and simmer 10 minutes. Add milk and tea, bring to boil and simmer 2 minutes. Turn off heat and steep 4 to 6 minutes, according to desired strength. Mix in sugar. Strain tea. (Can be prepared 6 hours ahead. Cover and chill. Rewarm before serving.)

GINGER TEA

Steps:

• Bring 8 cups water and 1 cup thinly sliced unpeeled ginger to a simmer in a saucepan; simmer until reduced to 5 cups, about 25 minutes. Sweeten with 1/4 cup honey and divide among mugs (strain, if desired). Dust with cinnamon.

SPICED TEA MIX

Steps:

• Mix all ingredients in a large bowl and stir with a wooden spoon until all of the ingredients are well blended.
• Store the mix in an air-tight container.
• When ready to serve, place 3 teaspoons of the mix in a coffee mug and add 1 cup of hot water. Stir with a whole cinnamon stick, and serve while hot.
• NOTE: Measurements are approximate; adjust ingredient amounts to suit your taste preferences.
• GIFT-GIVING TIP - This is a wonderful treat that is suitable for gift-giving. Place about 1 1/2 cups of the mix in a decorative glass jar, a strong cellophane bag, or a pretty holiday tin. Tie a festive holiday ribbon around the neck of the jar (or top of the bag), or secure a pretty bow to the top of the tin. For special touch, attach 3 or 4 cinnamon sticks to the ribbon. Be sure to add a label to the package with instructions to place 3 teaspoons of the spiced tea mix to a coffee mug and add 1 cup hot water.

DRIED GINGER MASALA CHAI

Steps:

• To a 5-qt pot, add 3 cups water, cardamom pods and seeds, ginger, and pepper and bring to a rolling boil over high heat. Then add tea and boil for 4-5 minutes until the water looks darker.
• Add milk and let boil until the foam almost overflows the pot. (Not all plant-based milk will rise when it boils. If yours doesn't, keep it at a rolling boil for 30 seconds before continuing with the recipe.) Place a wooden spoon across the pot to avoid bubbling over, and lower heat briefly. When foam has settled, return to medium heat, continuing to boil for a total of 10 minutes from the time that milk was added, until the liquid has reduced by ⅓ and has a deep tan color. If the foam continues to rise, lower heat slightly.
• Remove from heat. Using a strainer, strain tea into 4 teacups. (For a frothy chai, pour the chai from one cup to another a few times until bubbles form.) Add about 1 tsp. sugar (or more to taste) per cup, and serve immediately.
• Variations
• Swap or add in one or all of these spices to make a different cup of chai: 2 tsp. dried mint, 8 cloves (coarsely crushed), one 4-inch cinnamon stick (crushed into smaller pieces).