Make Your Own Chai
(Spiced Tea)

You'll need a saucepan, a tea strainer or sieve, and two teacups or mugs.

Ingredients:

1 cup water
1-inch stick of cinnamon
8 cardamom pods
8 whole cloves
2/3 cup milk (preferably 1% or skim)
6 teaspoons sugar (or to taste)
3 teaspoons unperfumed, loose black tea like Darjeeling

Pour the water into a saucepan. Add the cinnamon stick, cardamom pods, and whole cloves, and bring to a boil. Cover the pan, turn the heat to low, and simmer for 10 minutes. Add the milk and up to 6 teaspoons of sugar and bring to a simmer again. Toss in the tea leaves. Cover the pan and turn off the gas, or move the pan to a cold burner if you are using an electric stove. After 2 minutes, strain the liquid into two cups and serve immediately. Discard the whole spices and tea leaves in your strainer.