There is no drink superior to chai. No no, this is not a debate. Our lives would be incomplete and dull without our daily dose of chai.

The traditional green tea cleanses the stomach, improving digestion and metabolism, making it an effective weight loss aid. It also helps boost your immunity system as well

So let’s talk for a minute about tea in Afghanistan. They drink a lot of tea in Afghanistan. A LOT. It can be either black or green tea, and is usually served without milk.

To spice it up a little, cardamom is often added, and there could be a few other additions too like cinnamon or ginger, or even walnuts! And then of course there is sugar; usually the first cup is served with a lot of sugar, and then the next with slightly less, and so on. If you are a guest in an Afghan household, sugar can be a sign of honour; so that first cup may be extremely sweet!

This particular tea is very tasty and extremely more-ish; as I’m writing this I’m genuinely upset that I’ve finished my cup! It has a lovely delicate and fragrant flavour, with a hint of spice. In my opinion it needs a little sugar to get the balance right; I added a teaspoon, but it can be left out if you prefer.



INGREDIENTS

1 cup water (about 200ml)
½ tsp green tea leaves, or 1 green tea bag
1 cardamom pod, lightly crushed
Sugar, to taste (I used 1 tsp)


DIRECTIONS

•Heat the water in a pan until boiling.

•Add the tea leaves, cardamom and sugar, if using, to the boiling water.

•Continue to boil for a few minutes.
•Take off the heat and let the tea brew for a few more minutes in the pan.

•Strain through a tea strainer or sieve, into your mug. Taste and add more sugar if needed.

•Find a comfy seat, put your feet up, and drink slowly to gain maximum enjoyment!