Chia Latte (印度?) 辛香料茶

Chia Latte time!  It is getting cold and really feels winter approaching.  Also it is the perfect time to have a cup of home made Chia latte.

冬天漸漸近了, 上個月去緯度高的墨爾本時已經很有冬天的氣氛. 但在布里斯本還只有秋天的微涼. 不過近來晚上已經連續掉下不及攝氏15度過一週, 晚一點唸書或早一點寫曲子時, 已經可以確確實實的感到寒意, 正是可以享受 Chia Latte (辛香料茶-也有人稱印度香料茶) 的時刻.

材料/Ingredients:

• Cinnamon sticks/肉烓棒
• Cardamom pods/小荳蔻
• Star Anise Fruit/八角茴香
• Fresh ginger root/薑
• Whole cloves/丁香
• Whole black peppercorns/黑胡椒
• Ground nutmeg/肉荳蔻
• Tea leaves (Assam)/紅茶葉 (阿薩姆)
• Vanilla beans (optional)/香草莢 (按個人喜好)
• Soy Milk/豆奶
• Honey/蜂蜜
• Water...對, 當然還要水, 滾水.

作法:

1. 先把辛香料過火, 加熱去濕氣. 香料比例依個人喜好而定.  自己用的是以一支三寸肉桂, 一甜點匙的小荳蔻, 二顆八角茴香, 一根大約姆指長的薑, 三顆丁香, 一茶匙黑胡椒, 半顆肉荳蔻 (現磨). 
2. 兩杯馬克杯的水, 煮滾後加香料文火煮一陣子, 火太大會煮出苦味 (忘了多久, 跟爸媽視訊聊了一下, 應該超過15分鐘). 
3. 香氣出來時放茶葉, 個人喜愛阿薩姆搭配性高的特性, 過一分鐘 (愛濃茶的可以等久一點).
4. 加同等的豆奶下去一起熱, 大概有 70 度就可以了. 
5. 視自己喜好加蜂蜜.  香氣撲鼻之外, 喝了體還會很暖和, 最適合冬天的深夜.

Process:

1. Fry the spices on the pan to bring out the flavour, (mixture varied according to one's like) add 3 inches cinnamon sticks, 1 dessert spoon of cardamom pods, 2 star anise, 1 thumb size ginger (smash), 3whole cloves, a tea spoon of peppercorns, 1/2 ground nutmeg. 
2. Bring water to boil (2 mug cup) in a saucepan, add the spice mixture, simmer until the flavour infuse into the water.  
3. Add tea leaves, wait for a minute (or longer for stronger tea).
4. Add soy milk, bring it to around 70 Celsius, nice hot to drink.
5. Add honey at one's desire.