Vegan Massala Chai on a Snowy Day

Vegan Massala Chai Tea

Wherever you may be on be a cold snowy day, a cup of a massala chai is the perfect way to find comfort and relaxation.  Substitute milk with almond milk for a creamy and luscious alternative to dairy.

Ingredients for 2 cups of Vegan Chai:

1 cup raw almonds, finely ground

2 tablespoons black or green tea

1 tablespoon ginger, minced

2 cups unsweetened soy milk

1 cup water

6 black pepper pods

1 small piece of cinnamon stick

6 lightly crushed green cardamon pods

1 tablespoon honey

Directions:

1.  In a coffee grinder, grind raw almonds until pasty.

2.  In a pot, combine almond paste with soy milk and water.

3.  Add ground spices such as cinnamon, cardamon.

4.  Add mined ginger with a couple of black pepper pods and sweetener, such as honey.

5.  Boil gently for 15 minutes

6.  Strain mixture and serve into a cup.

Indian Street Vendor Making a Cup of Chai

Enjoying Chai at an Indian Dhaba

Sweet, Sharp and Aromatic Spices

1.  Peppercorns, Cardamom, Cinnamon, Ginger, and Pomegranate 2. Cardamom

Do you want to spice up your tea?  Consider adding aromatic spices.  You can combine a mixture of these spices with black tea to make a zesty chai tea.  You also can create a special cup of coffee by adding these spices.  Also, consider making garam masala (a hot spice mixture) to flavor any dish or combine with other ingredients to make a curry.

Chai Tea Recipe: 

For 2-3 cups of chai tea, bring the following ingredients to a boil, then simmer for 20 minutes on low heat:

1 1/4 cups water

3/4 cup milk

1 tablespoon black tea

4 crushed cardamom pods
8 crushed peppercorns

1 1/2 tablespoons grated ginger

1/2 stick cinnamon

1 or 2 tablespoons of honey

Strain before serving. 

For a change, toss in a few slivered almonds.