Irani Choi or Chai ( Spice Masala Chai)

Serves 6

Ingredients

Spice ingredients for one pot of tea:

• 1/2 of a star anise star

• 10-12 whole cloves

• 7 whole allspice or 1/4 tsp ground allspice powder *See photo below

• 1 heaping teaspoon of cinnamon bark (or 2 short sticks)

• 7 whole white peppercorns

• 1 cardamon pod opened to the seeds

Other ingredients:

• 1 cup water

• 6 cups whole milk

• 2 heaping tablespoons of a high quality full-bodied broad-leaf black tea (Ceylon, or English Breakfast if a broad-leaf Ceylon is not available)

• Sugar to taste

Method

1. In a 2-qt saucepan, add spices to 1 cup of water. Bring to a boil; remove from heat; let steep for 5-20 minutes, depending on how strong a spice flavor you want.

2. Add 4-6 cups of whole milk to the water and spices. If you don’t have whole milk, you can also use non-fat or low-fat milk, just add some cream to it, a few tablespoons. Bring the milk and spice mixture just to a boil and remove from heat.

3. Add the tea to the milk and let steep for 5 to 10 minutes to taste. (Option at this point – reheat to a simmer and remove from heat.) You can add sugar at this point, or serve without sugar and let people put the amount of sugar in they want. Traditionally, sugar is added before serving.

4. Strain into a pot. Serve.

5. Add sugar to taste.

Click here for recipe of Parsi Chai (with Fudina and Leeli Chai)

I am curious why some Parsis say “choi” instead of “chai” (tea) ?

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