Cardamom-Simmered Kashmiri Chai
A fragrant, spiced tea brewed with cardamom, cloves, and a hint of cinnamon, traditionally served with toasted almonds. This Indian-inspired recipe, ready in about 15 minutes, brings together water, green cardamom pods, cloves for a refreshing, crowd-pleasing drink — a bright, easy pour for parties, gatherings, or any warm-weather afternoon when you want something festive without alcohol-only options. Each serving lands at about 120 calories and feeds 4, so it works for entertaining, brunch, or a non-alcoholic option at the bar cart. Tap "Plan a meal with the AI" below to drop this recipe into your week and send the ingredients straight to Instacart. Nutrition values are approximate, calculated from USDA FoodData Central (fdc.nal.usda.gov) — verify against ingredient labels for any health-driven dietary plan.
Ingredients
- 4 cups water
- 3 green cardamom pods
- 2 cloves
- 1/4 tsp ground cinnamon
- 1/4 cup milk
- 2 tbsp loose-leaf black tea
- 2 tbsp sugar
- 1/4 cup slivered almonds
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Instructions
- Step 1: Bring 4 cups water to a boil in a saucepan. Add 3 whole green cardamom pods, 2 whole cloves, and 1/4 tsp ground cinnamon, then reduce heat and simmer for 5 minutes.
- Step 2: Stir in 2 tbsp loose-leaf black tea and simmer for 3 minutes to release flavor.
- Step 3: Add 1/4 cup milk and 2 tbsp sugar, then bring to a gentle simmer (do not boil vigorously) for 2 minutes, stirring until sugar dissolves.
- Step 4: Strain the tea into cups, discarding the spices. Serve hot with 1/4 cup toasted slivered almonds on the side.
