Beverage Recipes

Chai

4 C. water
3 cardamom pods
3 whole allspice
3 whole cloves
1 cinnamon stick
1 inch vanilla bean
about 1/3 C. honey
1 Tbsp. black tea (or 4 tea bags)
milk to taste (nonfat, soy, rice, whatever)

Put water in a saucepan with cardamom, allspice, cloves, cinnamon stick, and vanilla bean. Simmer for 5 min, bring to a boil, and pour over black tea. Infuse. Add honey and milk to taste.

Chai

From learn2.com

Yield: 4 servings

4 bags black teabags
1 1/2 quarts water
10 cardamom seeds
2 cinnamon sticks, broken in half
1 pinch whole black pepper
3 Tbsp. sugar
milk to taste

Boil water in saucepan. Catch it before it boils too long or tea will taste flat.
Add tea bags, cardamom, cinnamon, and black pepper. Return to boil.
Immediately add sugar and stir.
Remove pot from heat, cover, let stand 5 min.
Pour into cups and add milk.

Ginger Juice

My mom made this for me when I was little, and mixed it with cold water on hot summer days.

4 oz fresh ginger root
2 cups water
1 1/2 cups sugar

Peel and finely chop ginger, should have 3/4 cup.
Bring water and ginger to boil. Simmer 5 min. Let stand 12-24 hrs, covered with a cloth. Strain through sieve lined with 2 layers of cheesecloth. Squeeze pulp well.
Return to heat, add sugar and bring to boil over moderate heat, stirring. Boil gently for 5 minutes, skimming off froth.
Cool, strain into a bottle and refrigerate. Mix about 1 Tbsp. syrup with 6 oz of chilled soda or regular water.

Coffee Liqueur

(compare to Kahlua)

4 C. sugar
4 C. water
1 quart vodka
1 vanilla bean, cut into small pieces
3/4 C. instant coffee

Boil the water and sugar for 10 minutes.
Take off heat. Stir in coffee, vodka, vanilla bean pieces.
Put in a half-gallon jug.
Shake once a day for three weeks.

Hot Cranberry Sipper

1/2 C. honey
3 C. cranberry or cranapple juice
3/4 C. water
1 Tbsp. Lemon juice
1 cinnamon stick
16 oz. Can undiluted frozen orange juice

Combine, simmer about 20 minutes until hot.

Indian Chai

By Debra Ginsberg at Salon.com
Yield: 6 servings

6 teaspoons loose Darjeeling tea
10 to 12 cardamom pods, split but not open
10 to 12 cloves
2 to 4 tablespoons sugar
4 cups water
2 cups whole milk

Add tea, cardamom and cloves to boiling water and continue rolling boil for 10 minutes. Reduce heat slightly and add milk. Stir and heat for another 3 minutes. Add sugar to taste. Turn off heat and pour tea through a strainer into warm cups.

Liquid Love

Vodka
Ameretto
Triple sec
Orange juice

Mix in large container. Drink cautiously or near something you can sleep on.

Mint Tea

Source: Paula Wolfert
Yield: 3 cups (6 small glasses)

1 Tbsp. Gunpowder or Chun Mee tea
handful fresh spearmint
3 C. water
1 oz. Sugar

Rinse the teapot with boiling water and discard wash water. Put in tea, sugar, and spearmint. Cover with boiling water and allow to brew at least 3 minutes, stirring a little at the end. Pour out the first glass, taste and correct sweetness if necessary before serving.

Shakes

Asian Sweet Bean and Almond Booster

From Natural Health, June 1999
Yield: 2 servings

1 1/2 C. reduced-fat almond milk
1 medium banana, peeled, sliced, and chilled
3/4 C. cooked navy beans, chilled
3 Tbsp. sliced almonds, toasted
2 Tbsp. rice syrup
1/2 tsp. almond extract

Combine all ingredients in blender and whip until smooth.