Chai tea

A traditional drink of India, masala chai has become a popular beverage worldwide. While you may certainly purchase teabags at your local grocery store, you will achieve a more authentic flavor if you make it yourself, bouquet garni style, using the following recipe.

Ingredients
For eight servings:
 * 2 teaspoons fresh ginger root; grated
 * 1 whole star anise broken up
 * 1 teaspoon orange peel; grated
 * 4 pieces cinnamon sticks; 1 1/2 inch
 * 1 teaspoon cardamom seeds
 * 10 whole cloves
 * 5 whole peppercorns
 * 5 cups water
 * 1/4 cup black tea leaves; (like Assam or Darjeeling)
 * 1 teaspoon vanilla
 * 1/4 cup honey
 * 3 cups skim milk

Method

 * 1) Bundle up the first seven ingredients in a length of cheese cloth and tie it together with a string. This is called a bouquet garni (pronounced "boo-KAY gar-NEE").
 * 2) Place the bouquet garni in a pot of water. The string should be tied to the handle for easy removal later on.
 * 3) Bring the water to a very low boil, then reduce the heat and simmer. Boiling water may extract too much bitterness from the tea leaves.
 * 4) Add tea leaves and continue simmering for 15 minutes.
 * 5) Remove the bouquet garni.
 * 6) Strain the remaining liquid through a sieve to remove tea leaves.
 * 7) Add honey, vanilla, and milk.
 * 8) Serve. Pour the mixture over crushed ice if you're serving it cold.