Masala Chai

Masala Chai means "spiced tea" and in hindi (many american places call this drink Chai Tea, which is redundant) and it is becoming very popular world wide. I love Chai. Its delicious, spicy, sweet and even people who hate conventional tea will drink masala chai. Here's the recipe I use:

Darjeeling Tea
Cardamom
Ginger
Cinnamon
Cream/soy cream/ condensed milk

1.) Boil some water in a pot along with the spices.
2.) When the water boils, turn off the stove, and then add the Tea/tea bags
3.) Let the Tea brew for 5-10 minutes. (depending on how strong you want your tea.)
4.) Pour into a glass making sure to strain out anything loose.
5.) Add some cream + sugar or condensed milk
6.) Drink

Thai Tea

One of the most delicious things ever invented by man. You just can't know until you have some. You can get this stuff in instant packets or make it the traditional way. Either way it will be good.

Thai tea (you should be able to find this in an asian market, or online)
Water
Cream/soy cream
Sugar

1.) Put about 3 tsp of thai tea into a tea strainer/bag
2.) Boil the tea in 2 cups of water for about 5 minutes
3.) Add sugar to taste
4.) top off with cream.
5.) For the iced version put the tea in the fridge and then add ice and cream when its cold.

Be careful with this tea, it will stain anything it gets on.
3.)

Sweet Tea

Sweet tea is a popular drink in the south. Its served everywhere, from fast food places like McDonald's to Cook-outs. You can't go to a house down here without finding a jug of Sweet Tea in the fridge. But what's so special about it you ask? Isn't sweet tea the same as ice tea with some sugar?

No. Its not. And there are 2 reasons why. First, the ingredients and secondly, how its made.

Orange pekoe tea,
Real sugar (any other sweetener gives it a strange taste),
Baking soda (cuts out the sourness of the strong tea brew)
Spring water (Water with high amounts of chlorine makes a bad tea)

Most of the tap water in the south comes from springs. Its humid in the south and the ground is saturated, so springs are everywhere. I myself have a well connected to my house which supplies us with fresh spring water.

1.) Boil 4 cups of water
2.) Add 2 big tea bags of pekoe tea (most people use luzianne tea, a tea who's soul purpose is to make sweet tea)
3.) Let it steep for a good 12 minutes.
4. Add 2 cups of sugar and a dash of baking soda and dissolve it into the tea.
5.) Pour the tea into a jug, I use old juice jugs but pitchers work too. Add water to the tea to fill it up the rest of the way.
6.) Refrigerate the tea and when its ready to be served filled a glass up half way with ice and then add the tea. Garnish with a lemon.

Horchata made from scratch

Horchata is a delicious and refreshing Mexican drink. Its made from rice and Almonds and served at almost every Mexican place in Texas. I think it tastes the best fresh, and not out of some powdered drink mix. Anyway, how else are you going to use up that 10 lb bag of rice? (You do have one don't you?)

20 cups dry rice
2 cups almonds
Cinnamon Sticks or ground cinnamon to taste
25 cups water
Sugar/sweetener to taste


1.) Grind up the almonds with a mortar and pedstle or a coffe grinder.
2.) Put the almonds, rice, cinnamon or cinnamon sticks and water in a big plastic container.
3.) Let it sit over night or longer for a stronger flavor.
4.) Strain the rice, almonds and cinnamon out of the liquid with a cheese cloth or hanker chief.
5.) Add sugar to taste.
6.) Put the horchata in the refrigerator.
7.) You can drink it cold or put it in ice with a blender to make an icie. You can also add milk or ice-cream to it.

Mixed Drink Called Rice Rocket

2 parts horchata
1 part coconut-flavored rum
Dash of Goldschalger over ice

Tea Milkshake

I'm a huge fan of tea. Its fantastic. And I'll probably talk a lot more about it.
Here is a milkshake recipe of something I make fairly often that is really really delicious.

Cold Tea
Ginger
Vanilla Ice-cream
(or soy cream)

Blend the tea, ice-cream and ginger in a blender. Then eat.

Here are some combinations I've found that are really good:

White tea with peach
ginger
vanilla ice-cream

Rooibos Tea
mango
ginger
vanila ice-cream

Black Tea
Cinnamon
Vanilla Ice-cream

Black Tea
Pomegranate juice
Lemon Sherbet

Mint Tea (spearmint and peppermint)
Chocolate ice-cream

But there are probably hundreds of combinations you could try. :)