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Through pandemic, I’ve gone from 4 coffees a day to 2, and started drinking chai more. No reason, just a side effect of quitting working from Starbucks. Also alcohol down drastically since I’m primarily a social drinker. Anyone else have pandemic changes in upper/downer intake?
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Probably down a bit on caffeine since I have to make the coffee myself, rather than just free easy refills at the office. Also, do you have a good chai recipe?
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Here’s a mediocre one One heaped tsp cheap black CTC tea, a cardamom pod or even just skin, 1/2 tsp ginger powder, a clove, 2-3 twists from pepper mill. Steep 4min in mug of 4:1 boiling water+hot milk. I use kettle for water and microwave a half inch soy milk in mug for 30s
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The spicing makes using pricey good whole leaf black tea a waste. Save that for plain black tea. The CTC stuff is like a few bucks for a pound at Indian grocery stores. Something like Brook Bond red label. Increase spicing proportion/steep time for stronger flavors.
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Word haha this is essentially the same recipe I use, down to the brook bind red label. Came from Indian relatives so not surprising
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This is the way. Indian masala chai is cheap-ass construction worker brew, the equivalent of gas station coffee in America. Not the pretentious gourmet thing they’re trying to make it here 🤣 Most people skip all the spices too.
This Is The Way GIF
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Ya having the spices on hand is key. Learning that you can get like six pounds of raw ginger from the Indian grocery for two dollars was a game changer
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Ginger powder is easier, though grated fresh ginger is of course stronger. Back when I cared more I’d squeeze a fresh ginger slug into tea with a garlic press. Good hack for really strong ginger note. Saving cardamom pod skins is my mom’s hack. Save $$$ seeds for fancy cooking.
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These sound like good hacks. Currently I crush sliced ginger along w peppercorns and cardamom pods in a mortar. Too high effort, prevents me from making it frequently
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Jeez yeah… I’d only put in that much effort for a special occasion My approach takes the same time as steeping a tea bag. I can add the spices and heat the milk while the kettle is coming to a boil. I take mediocrity by design seriously
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