Chai

Ingredients:
10 - 12 cinnamon sticks
or 1/2 cup cinnamon bark
1/3 cup star anise
thumb sized length of fresh ginger, grated
1/4 cup cloves
20 - 30 cardamom pods - release seeds from casings and grind in mortor and pestle or spice mill
black tea
optional: 1 tbsp ground black pepper
1/4 cup fennel

Directions:
Simmer all the ingredients except the tea in about 4 cups of water - allow it to simmer for at least 20 minutes. Make a pot of good quality black tea (approximately 4 cups worth; steep 5 - 7 minutes.) Pour tea over simmered spices and strain the mix. Add 2 or more cups of your choice of the following: dairy milk, soy beverage, rice beverage. Sweeten to taste (with honey, maple syrup, stevia or sugar ), reheat and serve. Makes 8 - 10 mugs.
Can be stored in refrigerator for up to a week.