Kyle’s Easy Chai

 

Once upon a time I had a spiced cider drink at an office potluck, and the person who brought it said she melted Red Hots candy into it. 

So for years, whenever I was craving that cinnamon-y warmth, I would try to replicate it by melting my own Red Hots into beverages. 

Then one day, I discovered the secret to that glorious beverage, didn't even have anything to do with the Red Hots. The trick is, if you simmer cinnamon sticks long enough, and then enhance the flavor with just a little bit of honey, you create something that I would say is a magical tincture. 

~Makes 8 servings of 8 ounces per person~

Ingredients:

• 8 cups or 64 ounces of filtered water. 
• 8 black tea bags like Tazo English Breakfast. 
• 6 cinnamon sticks. 
• 1 tsp black peppercorns. 
• 3 inch knob (peeled and cut into 3rds) ginger, or 1 tsp dried ginger. 
• 1/2 tsp ground nutmeg. 
• 1/4 tsp ground cloves. 
• 1/4 tsp allspice (optional). 
• 1/4 tsp ground cardamom. 
• 4 tsp vanilla extract. 
• 4 Tbsp. honey. 

Directions:

1. In a medium sized pot with a lid, combine all of the ingredients, except for the honey, and bring the contents to a slow boil over medium-high heat. 
2. Remove all of the tea bags with a slotted spoon. 
3. Add honey and stir well. 
4. Reduce the heat to medium-low. 
5. Cover with a lid and simmer for 30 minutes. 
6. Keep the heat on low for as long as you wish to drink it, but it's ready after 30 minutes. Don't stir it, so the spices stay on the bottom. Keep the lid on it, so it doesn't evaporate. 
7. Use a dry measuring cup to ladle out your tea into a cup, being careful not to collect any spices into the ladle. I like to press it up against the side of the pot. 

Meal-Planning tip: If there is any leftover, allow it to cool to room temperature, then transfer it to a piture or storage container with lid and refrigerate until ready to serve. To reheat, bring it to a low simmer on the stove again.