Karaki Chai

Discover the art of crafting the perfect Karaki chai! This delightful, robust tea is a soothing blend of milk and spices, radiating warmth with its caramel hue. Embrace each step to savor this comforting delight.

Karak chai, also known as chai Karaki or Karaki tea, is a beloved beverage in the Gulf region of the Middle East.

While it shares similarities with masala chai, it features fewer spices. A classic chai karak combines just tea, milk, and sugar—creating a comforting drink that’s simply delightful!

Ingredients

4 tablespoon white sugar 

4 cups hot water

2 tablespoons loose black tea or 3 tea bags, like Lipton red label or English breakfast

6 pods whole cardamom

3 whole cloves

pinch saffron threads (like 5-6 threads)

3 slices of whole ginger root, or pinch of ginger powder optional

2/3 cup evaporated milk 

Instructions

In a medium saucepan over medium heat, add the sugar. Let the sugar melt and caramelize without stirring or disturbing it. Once it has turned a golden caramel, slowly stream in the hot water. (If some parts of the sugar clump and harden, don't worry they'll melt as the water boils).

Add the tea, the cardamom, cloves, saffron, and ginger. Boil for 5-7 minutes or so until the spices are fragrant, then add the evaporated milk.

Lower the heat slightly until tea is at a steady, low simmer. Simmer for 8-10 minutes until tea thickens slightly.

Transfer the tea to a tea pot, using a strainer while pouring so you can separate the tea leaves and spices.

Enjoy hot! Utter comfort.

Elizabeth Kilbride is a Writer and Editor with forty years of experience in writing, with 12 of those years in the online content sphere. Author of 5 books and a Graduate with an Associate of Arts degree in Business Management, then a degree. Mass Communication and Cyber Analysis from Ashford University, then on to Walden University for her master’s in criminology with emphasis on Cybercrime and Identity Theft and is currently studying for her Ph.D. degree in Criminology. Her work portfolio includes coverage of politics, current affairs, elections, history, and true crime. Elizabeth is also a gourmet cook, life coach, and avid artist in her spare time, proficient in watercolor, acrylic, oil, pen and ink, gouache, and pastels. As a political operative who has worked on over 300 campaigns during her career, Elizabeth has turned many life events into books and movie scripts while using history to weave interesting storylines. She also runs 7 blogs ranging from art to life coaching, food, writing, Gardening, and opinion or history pieces each week.