Eric's Chai

I was at sixes and sevens one afternoon, and decided to make a hot something to warm up with, the better to figure out what to do next.

What to make? Coffee was out, I'd had too much lately and the flavor was getting tiresome. Hot tea? Hate it. Herb tea…. Nah.

Ah ha! Chai! I spied some Tazo Chai in the back of the refrigerator and eagerly poured it.

Alas, it was spoiled. This just got my dander up and off I went to research chai ingredients. After a short search I came up with a rough formula and tried it.

We'd just been to Chicago, which included a visit to Penzey’s Spices, a remarkable source for fine spices and herbs. That left me with a large bag of superb absolutely fresh flavorings of all kinds, from star anise to Indian curry mixes.

I went through the list of needed ingredients in the recipe, hoping that I wouldn't have to make too many compromises or substitutions. To my delight, all parts needed were in the Penzey's bag! I mixed, brewed, tasted, and lucked out on the first try, which is unusual. The good ingredients made it work.

The result was a revelation.

Chai made with excellent ingredients goes beyond beverage and into spiritual experience. The richly ornamented flavors are complex, and mystifying. It’s a beautiful beverage. To me it conjured up images of the Silk Road, of ancient markets, long-ago genetic memories vaguely redolent of adventure and love.

Part of the beauty for me is the process. When working with fresh spices, it's essential to smell and judge the amounts as you add them, since the individual spices will very in strength. Use the following as guide:

Eric’s Chai

The Spices (roughly 1 teaspoon each)

Cardamom (powder, freshly ground)
Black Pepper, freshly crushed
Ginger, fresh or well stored powder
Cinnamon, fresh ground from sticks
Cloves, whole
Star Anise, whole

The Rest:

Good Black Tea (3 bags)
Brown Sugar or Honey
Bourbon Vanilla Extract
Soy Milk or Cream

Brew tea and spices together till dark and smell great. Strain out solids.

Add the vanilla. This is the major balancing ingredient; be generous. Together the spices and vanilla create a sense of sweetness, so it's better to add vanilla before sweetener.

Add brown sugar or honey to taste.

Add milk, soy milk or cream.



Below:

This is not the chai, but another tea, on another day. To me, the story is about the person who ordered it, who is not in the picture. It's a warm day (note the condensation), why would s/he leave a refreshing cool drink behind?



























Iced Tea Alone