When my daughter was a young toddler and we were trying to introduce cow’s milk to her, she rebelled against it for weeks. Mira was an avid nurser, and cow’s milk was, well, just not up to snuff as far as she was concerned.
One day, as I was walking with her and sipping an iced chai, Mira pointed to the cup and said, “Cha! Chaaaaaaaaaaaaaah!”
She grabbed the straw and gunked down half the cup. One taste and she was hooked. We began making it for her at home, slowly weaning her from the full chai to the mostly milk chai to just plain milk. To this day, whether it really includes chai or not, we call her morning milk “chai”.
We still love a genuine full-bodied chai (hot or cold) when it is time for a treat. To add a little more protein, vitamin E and magnesium, we crush a few almonds in a mortar and pestle to put in the bottom of the glass, as my friend Yoana taught me to do. Note that this is very, very popular with two-year-olds, and most likely with little brothers everywhere.
Here are both the dairy and non-dairy versions of our special drink:
Mira’s Masala Chai
*1 star anise
*6 cardamom pods, lightly crushed with a mortar and pestle or the back of a knife
*12 whole cloves
*1 long cinnamon stick (3-inch piece) or 2 shorties
*a quarter-sized piece of fresh ginger, peeled and sliced
*6 black peppercorns
*4 cups water for the dairy version/7 cups water for the non-dairy, version
*2-3 T. Darjeeling tea
*1/4 c. light brown sugar
*1 t. vanilla
*3 cups milk for dairy version/alternate milk to taste for non dairy (almond, soy, rice, oat)
*handful of almonds for each chai drinker
In a medium saucepan, combine the star anise, cinnamon, cardamom pods, cloves, ginger, peppercorns, and water. Bring the mixture to a boil and continue to let boil for 5 minutes. Add the tea, stir, cover, and take off the heat to steep for about 10 minutes.
For the dairy version, add the milk to the pot and bring the mixture just up to a boil. Remove from the heat, stirring.
Strain the mixture, discard the spices and tea leaves. Stir in the brown sugar and vanilla. For the non-dairy version, add milk to taste.
Using a mortar and pestle, a spice grinder or a big plastic sealed bag and a rolling pin, crush the almond to a powder. Place these in the bottom of the glass before pouring the chai on top.
Serve immediately or cool and chill in the fridge to iced chai.
15/12/2009 at 7:50 pm Permalink
this is such a sweet story!
i never liked milk myself – from when i was a little baby. weird. i still only like it in coffee or as hot chocolate, and even that only in small portions. glad to hear your little girl went for the chai!
15/12/2009 at 9:37 pm Permalink
Yum yum yum! This is perfect for the season. Even if it's warm (which is it down here in Florida) it's sooo good chilled. How have you been by the way? I bet you're having tons of fun with your family
The holiday season always seems to bring people closer.
XO
16/12/2009 at 1:28 am Permalink
Ahhh… I can see she has develop the taste for the finer things at an earlier age. I love this story! Thanks for sharing. xo
16/12/2009 at 12:13 pm Permalink
it reminds me indian chai, the ones sold in the streets were the best …
16/12/2009 at 1:12 pm Permalink
Oh thank you for this. I have a love affair with chai, but have never found a recipe that hits it just right. I will be making this one for sure!
16/12/2009 at 3:41 pm Permalink
i´m making this right now- it´s snowing outside and this is just what i need… warm hugs!
16/12/2009 at 8:33 pm Permalink
Yum, I love chai but have never tried to make it myself. When you say Darjeeling Tea- you mean loose tea, right? Not teabag tea? Just want to make sure.
Thanks!
16/12/2009 at 9:28 pm Permalink
Lovely cooks…
17/12/2009 at 2:54 am Permalink
yes! loose leaf tea. (though tea bags would be fine if that's all you had-you'd just have to experiment with how many you'd need for a big pot like this.)
17/12/2009 at 3:01 pm Permalink
Hello Cate,
how old was your daughter when you introduced her cow milk? I'd like to start giving it to my little one, she's almost one year old now, I still breastfeed her but since she's been eating solid foods I noticed I don't produce much milk recently.
I love the recipes and will try them for sure. Thank you!
Kasia
xxx
18/12/2009 at 5:41 am Permalink
Love Chai! And it looks like you have darling little elves helping you make yours.
24/12/2009 at 10:45 am Permalink
Hello
I like Masala chai very much and I drink it twice a day.I will also try this tea which you have given.Those photographs are very sweet.I like it very much.Thank you for this recipe.
kelp