Chai Tea Fueled Elk Knob Summit

E and i tend to fall more in the tea drinker category then on the coffee drinker side. don't get me wrong, i love a good cup of espresso or a caramel latte. i tend to like a little coffee with my milk. but i love chai tea. chai for me green for E.

i can't tell you how many different boxes of chai tea i have in our tea cabinet but it's getting a little ridiculous. i finally decided to brew my own. i thought the first try would be undrinkable. i thought it would take me try after try after try to be successful. perhaps that is why i put it off for so long. too bad i did because i thought the first batch was pretty darn good.

i mixed cinnamon sticks with whole cloves, fresh ginger, whole peppercorns, allspice seeds, cardamom pods, and vanilla black tea. a little agave nectar and the result was a slightly sweet, spicy, smooth, and creamy chai. i think next time i'll go a bit spicier but it was not bad for the first try, not bad at all.

a tall mug of this sweet goodness was fuel for our beautiful fall hike. it was quite the haul to the top, but the view was worth it!

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Chai Tea
(makes 8-10 servings)

2-inch piece fresh ginger, cut into thin rounds

2 cinnamon sticks

2 teaspoons black peppercorns

12 whole cloves

4 allspice seeds

8 cardamom pods

6 cups cold water

6 bags of vanilla black tea (I used mighty leaf)

1/3 cup agave nectar

combine all ingredients except black tea and agave in a medium saucepan over medium heat. bring to a boil and reduce to a simmer. let simmer for 10-15 minutes.  remove from heat, add tea and let steep for 10 minutes. add agave and stir until dissolved. strain and store in airtight container. 

when ready to use, pour a cup of half tea and add half milk and warm until hot. enjoy!