Tea Time

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Posted on: October 22, 2008

Posted in: Thoughts, Video

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Tea Time

I drink a lot of tea. I’m thinking it has to do with being an Indian girl and growing up in a house where tea is served on average 3 times a day. Indian tea is called “chai”, or “cha” if you’re Punjabi like me. When I was in India at the start of 2008 it became clear to me that “cha” is not just a beverage, it’s a ritual. It’s a multi step process and every household has a slightly different take on how it should be made. There are several ingredients in a good cup of “cha” and I thought I’d share a very basic recipe with you.

Cha
3 cups water
1/2 tbs anise seed
3 or 4 cloves
3 or 4 cardamom pods
a dash of cinnamon
1 tbs loose black tea leaves
whole milk
sugar or honey to taste

Put 3 cups water in a pot and bring it to a boil. While the water is heating add the anise seed. Crush cloves & cardamon using a mortar and pestle or back of a big spoon. Add it to the boil. The water should turn a golden brown. Add a couple dashes of cinnamon. Let this boil for a couple minutes then add the tea leaves. Bring this to a boil for 2 more minutes. The chai should have a dark translucent look. Add milk and let it boil till the tea is slightly frothy from the boil. Strain it into a pot or cup and add sugar or honey to taste.

All these ingredient amounts can be increased or decreased. Again, this is a very simple and basic recipe. I took a cooking class while I was in India and one of my favorite things to learn was chai. The recipe was more complicated than the one I’ve shared. When I find that recipe I’ll post it here too.

  • Hache

    I WANT SOME CHA ;)

  • http://www.smibs.com Peter Urban

    Sorry, I am a coffee man ;-)

  • http://twitter.com/sukhjit sukhjit

    I'm going to make you some cha when you come to San Francisco! When do you think that may be?

  • http://twitter.com/sukhjit sukhjit

    Yeah, yeah, coffee is another one of my addictions. Next time you and Christy come to SF I am going to take you to some great coffee places. Thanks again for the comment Peter!

  • http://www.onefilmdaily.com/wordpress disposablepal

    you always have the coolest snacks, its never just tea and crackers or something boring like that. everytime i see your snacks or breakfast pics i get hungry and inspired.

  • @longershanks

    Found your cha recipe. It looks good and since I wanted some tea, I tried your recipe. Very good. Thx for the recipe.
    @longershanks

  • Techno Barista

    Yep, that is some serious cha all right! I come from a Pakistani Punjabi background (parents from Lahore!!) and the day cannot begin nor end without chai! I once made cha with skim milk and my mom freaked out on me (I realized later why, when I tasted it) hehehe

    You're absolutely right about cha being a ritual..and it's almost like bonding time for the family over chai ahahah I love it! Even though I'm a coffee fan, I don't really drink it when I'm home – chai it is!

  • http://twitter.com/sukhjit sukhjit

    Excellent! I'm so glad you gave it a try. There are a million versions, but I think this is a good basic “desi” style chai recipe.

    Thanks so much for leaving a comment BTW! –sukhjit

  • https://twitter.com/jagesque Jag

    I share your sentiment Techno and Sukhjit. My wife and I have been cha-nuts all our lives. The other day she to my surprise subtituted with almond milk!. One sip of this bleeccch stuff was enough before I dumped it my cup`

    Don't mess with my cha! :-P

  • https://twitter.com/jagesque Jag

    I share your sentiment Techno and Sukhjit. My wife and I have been cha-nuts all our lives. The other day she to my surprise subtituted with almond milk!. One sip of this bleeccch stuff was enough before I dumped it my cup`

    Don't mess with my cha! :-P

  • http://www.sukhjit.me/post/grrr-im-giving-up-coffee-really/ Sukhjit 3.0 » Blog Archive » Grrr. I’m giving up coffee. Really.

    [...] off the caffeine-free-month-of-August-wagon. I’m not proud of it. It was a quarter cup of chai, which is Indian tea. Chai is more than a drink in my culture it’s an experience. That being [...]

  • pebble8

    I'll have to get the recipe off my ma Sukhjit, but I think its not too different from your recipe. The key, as you know, to cha is to boil the water and keep it on the heat as you add the tea and milk and the spice. My only complaint with my ma's is that she makes it sickly sweet and i tend to prefer it with no sugar or just a smidgeon. I think one can now even buy pre-packed chai masala powder, although i admit i've never tried it yet

  • http://twitter.com/sukhjit sukhjit

    Yes, desi chai doesn't vary that much, tough I was surprised ththat Kashmiri chai is totally different. Do share your recipe if you get it… always fun to compare notes. Also I was very surprised to realize water and air make a huge difference. When I moved to SF my chai tasted so different. Then while in India I realized chai is sooooo different and delicious, thought I think part of that is also milk. In any case, chai is such an experience, isn't it. :) Thanks a million for leaving a comment. Means a lot to me. Have a great weekend.

  • http://twitter.com/sukhjit sukhjit

    LOL I can't believe I'm seeing this comment from so many months ago! I gave up milk for the most part several months ago, so when I make chai for myself, I've been using almond milk. You're right, JAG– it's not the same, but hahaha.. dumping your cup… um, maybe a bit of an over reaction, no? :)

  • http://twitter.com/puleen Puleen Patel

    I agree the milk in India is the key ingredient which makes chai a whole new experience in itself. Haven't had Kashmiri chai, but I have heard it also is a totally different experience. Will try it next time I have the opportunity to try it. Cheers!

  • pebble8

    yep geography is a strange thing. I think back in the auld country they use thick creamy full fat milk and the tea leaves and spices seem fresher.
    Its the same with eating a Greek salad in Greece and the “same” thing in London. Entirely different taste

  • http://www.titidirectonline.co.uk/mobile-phones dual sim

    Found your cha recipe. It looks good and since I wanted some tea, I tried your recipe. Very good. Thx for the recipe.

  • http://www.titidirectonline.co.uk/mobile-phones Dual Sim Phones

    very good recipe i should try this out