Sugar-free spicy chai

Chai also known as tea, is a staple in my diet! I love the aroma of tea leaves and the unique taste it leaves in my tongue. This gives me such a nostalgic feeling every time I sip a cup of chai as it reminds me of my mother waking me up early morning to go to school !

In Sri Lanka, we don’t call it chai! we call it ‘thei” and we put loads of sugar in it ! When you put more sugar, that means they are so generous and very hospitable people ! I know its a very strange but that was the practice in the good old days!

Now, things have changed and people have realised more sugar means not more hospitality but high risk of diabetes!!!

I make my teas with a bit of honey! I love the sweetness with the tea taste!

This recipe has spices to give an extra flavour to your morning or afternoon pick me up tea!

Serving size: 2 cups
Prep and Cook time : 10 minutes

INGREDIENTS

• 2 cups milk of choice

• 1/3 cup water

• 4 crushed cardamom pods

• 2 cloves

• 1 cinnamon sticks ( ceylon cinnamon will work best, or cinnamon powder)

• 1/2 tsp vanilla extract

• 2 tsp crushed ginger

• 1.5 tbsp of loose tea leaves

• 1 tbsp honey or sweetener of choice ( skip it if you want your tea to be unsweetened)

METHOD

• In a pot add water and the tea leaves and heat it up gently.

• After about a min, add everything except for the honey, bring the mixture to a gentle boil. You will smell the aroma of the spices at this point.

• Once the mixture is boiled turn off the heat and strain it using a sieve and add the honey, mix it well.

Enjoy