A refreshing start to the year with Fennel flavored tea (chai)

Tweet

Not only are we into the new year, we are already three days into it. I am sure that very soon, I am going to be exclaiming that this year too, is speeding by too fast :-)  Here is a question for all my readers out there.................what are your new year resolutions ? Hey... I never claimed that I have an original question:-) Anyway jokes apart, I would really love to know what resolutions you all have made, so do share some of them.....I just might get inspired and borrow one of your ideas :-)

In the last two years, without planning it or even realizing it, I started something of a "tradition" on this site. I started each year with a post on tea on this site. I think I have mentioned in the past, how much I value a good cup of tea, especially at the start of the day. I guess given that background it should not come as any surprise that I ended up starting the past two years with a post on tea rather than sweets, as seems to be the tradition that my friends follow on their sites :-)  Anyway I decided not to deviate from this "tradition" and this time I consciously deferred other posts to do this one.

One of the biggest pluses to this tea, other than its delicious taste is that it does not require any effort in grinding the masala for the chai, making it easy and quick. Just add the spices directly and the flavor from it gets infused into the tea. I usually make this version of tea when I  do not have the masala powder for chai handy and still want something more than just plain ginger tea. I know some of you may find fennel a surprising addition to tea, but give it a try.....it tastes pretty awesome.



Click here for a printable view of this recipe

Ingredients and Method to make Fennel flavored tea
1 cup water
1 cup hot milk
3/4 tsp fennel seeds (saunf/sombu)
4 whole black pepper (milagu)(can be substituted with a pinch or two of black pepper powder)
2- 1 inch pieces of cinnamon stick (dalchini/pattai)
1 inch piece of ginger (adrak/inji)crushed (or to taste)
2 tsp sugar (or to taste)
2 tsp loose tea powder

Place water in a sufficiently large pan and place on heat. Add ginger, fennel seeds, pepper, cinnamon and allow it to come to a boil. When it starts to boil, lower heat and allow this to simmer for a couple of minutes for the flavors to infuse.

Add sugar. After a few seconds add tea powder and quickly remove from heat. Allow the tea to steep for 4 to 5 minutes or more depending on how strong you like it.
The copyright of this content belongs to Veginspirations.com

Add hot milk, mix well and strain. If you want your tea piping hot and live in a colder part of the world, your tea probably needs  to be reheated by this point.

Serve hot. Serves 2