Karak Chai
Karak chai is an amazing, flavorful and warm tea. It needs only a handful of spices, resulting in a sweet and spicy aromatic tea. Get ready for some delicious warmth!
Ingredients
- 3 bags black or Ceylon tea about 2 tablespoons loose tea
- 3 cups water
- 1½ cinnamon sticks
- 3 whole cloves optional, but recommended
- Handful cardamom or to taste
- ¼-⅓ cup evaporated milk or to taste
- 2 tablespoons sugar or to taste, see notes*
- ginger optional, to taste
- saffron optional, to taste
- star anise optional, to taste
Instructions
- Add the water to your pot or kettle, add the sugar, and stir to combine. Let it boil on high heat until the sugar is dissolved. Alternatively, you can caramelize the sugar first then slowly add the water.
- Add the cardamom and cinnamon. If you’re using other spices add them too. Let them simmer in the water for 1-2 minutes before adding in the tea (I find it helps keep the strength of the spice flavors this way).
- Add the tea. Let it heat up and come to a boil on high for about 5-6 minutes.
- Add the evaporated milk.
- Let it bubble up before aerating it by adding a ladle to scoop some tea and ladle it from a distance a few times. You can also remove the teapot from heat and let the bubbles come down before doing it one more time.
- Strain karak tea and serve it with sugar, as you prefer.
- Serve and enjoy.
Notes
- Use Cardamom-Flavored Milk: If you prefer convenience, use cardamom-flavored evaporated milk and skip adding cardamom separately.
- Avoid Overboiling Tea: Do not overboil the tea before adding evaporated milk. This can make it bitter and ruin the taste of Karak Chai.
- Crush Cardamom: Lightly crush cardamom pods to release more flavor into your tea.
- Refrigerate Promptly: Avoid leaving the tea at room temperature. Since Karak Chai contains milk, you should not leave it at room temperature for extended periods, as it can spoil. Refrigerate it promptly after preparation.
- Reheat with Care: Avoid reheating the tea multiple times to maintain its flavor and texture. Instead, you can opt for heating only the portion you intend to consume to prevent overcooking and degradation of quality.
- Customize Sweetness: Adjust the sugar to your liking. You can add it during the brewing process or directly to each cup, depending on your preference for sweetness.
Nutrition
Calories: 100kcalCarbohydrates: 11gProtein: 5gFat: 5gSaturated Fat: 3gPolyunsaturated Fat: 0.2gMonounsaturated Fat: 1gCholesterol: 18mgSodium: 99mgPotassium: 220mgFiber: 3gSugar: 6gVitamin A: 167IUVitamin C: 1mgCalcium: 239mgIron: 1mg
Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!