Tè Vanilla Chai

The cardamom and clove come through first, then the vanilla softens everything out. I've been swapping my afternoon coffee for this and the little kick of black tea keeps me going without the jitters. Steeped it five minutes and it was just right.

I brewed a cup this morning while the rain was coming down and the clove and nutmeg made the whole kitchen smell like a proper tea shop. The vanilla rounds out the pepper nicely, so it's spicy but not harsh, even without any sweetener. This is going to be my new cold-weather staple.

The cardamom and ginger come through with real warmth, and the vanilla actually balances the pepper and clove instead of hiding them. I’ve been brewing it with milk every afternoon and the blend stays smooth to the last sip.