Equipment: Small deep saucepan
Mortar or spoon for cardamom
Fine mesh strainer
Two heat-safe cups

Ingredients

Tea and milk

250 ml water

250 ml whole milk

6 g Assam CTC black tea

Cardamom and optional sweetener

5 green cardamom pods, lightly cracked

8 g sugar, optional

Instructions

Crack the pods
Crack five green cardamom pods to expose the seeds. Bring them to a boil in 250 ml water and simmer 2 minutes.
Add tea
Add 6 g black CTC tea and simmer 2 minutes.
Add milk
Add 250 ml milk and optional sugar. Bring just to a rise, lower the heat and simmer gently 2–3 minutes, stirring.
Strain and serve
Strain promptly into two small heat-safe cups. Yield varies with evaporation.

Brewing notes

Tea Type: Assam CTC black tea
Method: Stovetop cardamom-water infusion, then milk simmer
Tea Grams: 6
Water Ml: 250
Temperature: 100°C / 212°F at water boil; gentle simmer after milk
Steep Seconds: 120
Infusions: 1
Tips: Crack cardamom pods; simmer them 2 min before tea. Finish with milk for 2–3 min.

Notes

Start with boiling water (about 100°C / 212°F). Simmer cracked cardamom 2 minutes, 6 g black CTC tea 2 minutes, then add 250 ml milk and simmer gently 2–3 minutes. One cooked infusion.

Storage

Serve fresh. Refrigerate leftover milk tea within 2 hours, or 1 hour above 32°C / 90°F; reheat gently.

Elaichi Chai: Cardamom Milk Tea