Ginger Cardamom Tea - Adrak Ilaichi Wali Chai! Ginger is known as ‘Adrak in Hindi’, and cardamom is ‘ilaichi’ and tea is called ‘chai’. So this tea In India is known as ‘Adrak Ilaichi Wali Chai’.
Is there anyone freezing today? I am. Oh, I am feeling so COLD.
Yes, I am! I am suffering from cold and cough and a BAD headache for the last couple of days. Medications are on, but this is INFLUENZA so it would take some time to be normal again. It could be a week or more! 🙁
Warm drinks including honey, eucalyptus mint honey drinks, and green teas are on. They are helping indeed!
But hey! Why am I writing if I am sick?
The reason is that I am sharing one the most common Indian Beverages today. And this helps me in cough and cold too. This is none other than magnificent ‘Indian Ginger-Cardamom Tea’.
I have a very emotional connection with this tea. Back in India, I remember at my home, my grandma and daddy used to drink this ’ginger-cardamom tea made with milk everyday. This was their morning drink as bed-tea, even before the breakfast. 😯
On the other hand, my Grandpa always simply used to have plain milk. I think he didn’t even know what tea or coffee taste like. 😉
But, this is not the FUN part. The fun part is that my Mom doesn’t drink tea at all. And she makes excellent milk tea with the added flavour of ginger-cardamom, and sometimes ‘Masala Chai’ (Spiced Tea). Isn’t it AMAZING? 😀
Mom always have milk coffee, and she also doesn’t know what ‘TEA’ tastes like? She has never tasted tea, even for once! Strange, isn’t it? Well, this is how she is and always been. I love my Mom. 🙂
So this TEA was a beverage made at my home everyday. I think it’s the same with most of the Indian families.
Tea is an essential part for people in INDIA. They start their day with this aromatic tea and feel refreshing all the day. They are so addicted to this milk tea. Or I might even call them Chain-Tea-Drinker! Yes, that’s true! Some people really do that. 🙂
My family used to travel a lot, as all my Uncles & Aunts live in different states. SO yes, we used to travel 5-6 times a year to visit relatives. My mother has a very big family. 🙄
In each of my trip, there was one thing very common. And it was ‘Tea Stalls’. YES! Tea stalls are very popular in India. And they are not like a cafeteria. Tea stall is small a place, where a Man called Chaiwala makes chai in a pot on his stove.
People can only stand there and have small chats while having their tea. You will see these stalls outside every office. As in the lunch break or tea break people will go there to have tea. This is similar at the train stations and and bus stops.
You just name a public place and there you will have a tea stall, or many. 🙂
This is also very inexpensive so that everyone can afford that. The aroma, flavor and taste is beyond explanation. Mmmmmmm!
During our travelling days, my Dad used to have that aromatic tea on Tea Stalls, and Mom used to have coffee. But as we were kids, we were not allowed to have any tea or coffee. 🙁
But to tell you, I have always envisaged that steaming hot cup of tea so BADLY as it was so aromatic. But to no luck.
I have many more memories attached with this tea. My parents never let me taste this AWESOME drink. 😮 I could still recall the day when I tasted this AWESOME & ADDICTIVE drink at my friend’s place for the first time. I was in 8th standard then!
And today, I was craving for this TEA again! So decided to share this very simple, very popular yet very addictive & stunning drink. I bet, If you love the flavors of ginger and cardamom, you simply can’t resist this tea.
I swear—cardamom works like MAGIC to make things aromatic. It’s so AMAZING.
Sugar adds sweetness, and the touch of ginger adds the breathtaking flavor. It’s just so PERFECT when milk is added to it. In case you are wondering I have used 1.5% fat milk. You cannot used non fat milk for making this tea, as the tea would come out bitter.
Plus this low fat milk would provide creamy texture to the tea. You can use 2% or more fat, if you wish. It’s up to you! But not less than 1.5%.
As I am a grown up now, so no restrictions for tea anymore! 😉 I so LOVE this tea, and I make it whenever I feel like.
BUT I still don’t drink tea everyday. I make it whenever I feel like having it. Many of my Indian friends have this awesome tea every morning. 🙂
Abhishek and I do not drink tea regularly, so we are not following our family rituals of drinking tea in the mornings. 😉
And before I go on, I just have to say that this is the perfect recipe to make today as I am suffering from cold. Mom said, this tea would help me. So I had this tea in the morning, and felt really relaxed indeed.
The good thing—this tea always tastes GOOD! SO this is always welcome!
Ginger-cardamom tea is made with dried tea leaves, ginger, and cardamom. Just FYI, Ginger is known as ‘Adrak’ in Hindi, and cardamom is ‘ilaichi’ and tea is called ‘chai’. So this tea In India is known as ‘Adrak Ilaichi Wali Chai’.
There is a wide variety of ‘Tea’ in India—Ginger-cardamom Tea, Masala Chai, ‘Basil Tea’, Mint Tea, Pepper Tea, Cloves Tea, Cardamom Tea, Fennel Tea, Nutmeg Tea, Cinnamon Tea; the list goes on.
Let’s talk about how I prepared this awesome drink!
Take a saucepan. Heat 3/4 cups of water on a medium heat.
When water forms little bubbles, add tea leaves, sugar and stir well. Let water boil for about 3-4 minutes.
Now add milk to it. Once it starts to boil, and tea starts to rise simmer the heat for about 2 minutes and let it boil.
Add ginger, cardamom powder and boil for about 5-7 minutes. Boiling is the key here, the more you boil the more aromatic flavor you will get.
Your tea is ready. Strain into cups and serve with cookies.
Happy Cooking 🙂
Love tea? Then you would also like this Mango Iced Tea.
Recipe Card
Ginger Cardamom Tea – Adrak Ilaichi Ki Chai [Recipe]
★★★★★
(Rating: 5 from 93 reviews)
| Prep time 🕐 | Cook time 🕐 | Total time 🕐 |
|---|---|---|
| 15 mins | ||
| Category ☶ | Cuisine ♨ | Serves ☺ |
| Drinks | Indian | 4 |
| Nutrition Info ⊛ | Serving size ⊚ | |
| 154 calories | 1 serving |
INGREDIENTS
For Ginger Cardamom Tea:
- 2 cups water
- 2 1/2 cups milk (I used 2% fat milk)
- 3 tablespoons sugar, or according to taste
- 2 tablespoons grated ginger (adrak(
- 1 teaspoon cardamom powder (hari elaichi)
- 2 teaspoon loose Indian tea leaves (or use 3 black tea bags)
INSTRUCTIONS:
How to Make Ginger Cardamom Tea:
- Heat 3/4 cups of water in a saucepan on medium heat.
- When water forms little bubbles add tea leaves and sugar and stir well.
- Let the water boil for about 3-4 minutes.
- Now add milk to it. Once it starts to boil and tea starts to rise simmer the heat for about 2 minutes and let it boil.
- Add ginger, cardamom powder, and boil for about 5 minutes. Boiling is the key here, the more you boil the more aromatic flavor you will get.
- Your tea is ready. Strain into cups and serve with your favorite cookies.
NOTES:
- If you don't fresh ginger root, then you can add 1 teaspoon of ground ginger.
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Author: Anupama
Recipe Source Link: https://www.mygingergarlickitchen.com/ginger-cardamom-tea-adrak-ilaichi-wali-chai/