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(Chocolate Tea)
On most days, a nice cup of hot chai is enough to cheer you up and fortify you. Sometimes, though, you need something even more comforting. And, the only thing that is cosier than chai is chocolate, of course!
So, what if you could combine two of your favourite drinks into one concoction? Well, with this chai hot chocolate, this doesn’t have to be a dream any longer. Now, this beverage may be a little different from what you are typically used to. Therefore, you should pay careful attention to these guidelines:
What Goes Into the Chai Hot Chocolate?
Let’s break down some of the ingredients that you will be using in this drink.
The Spices
The spices used in this recipe are cloves, cardamom, cinnamon, and ginger. These have been chosen because they work really well with both the tea as well as the chocolate flavour. However, you can feel free to make up your own concoction.
For instance, you may want to add fennel seeds or peppercorns to your drink. Before you do this, though, you should be mindful of how these flavours will work with the chocolate. Still, if you do want to experiment, go right ahead!
Whole Spices vs. Powdered Spices
In this recipe, you can choose to use either fresh, whole spices that you can grind up before adding to the pan. Or, you can add powdered spices. Before you make your decisions, there are some things to consider here.
As you are probably aware, whole spices tend to have a stronger, more complex flavour. This is why they are typically used in chai recipes. However, you should keep in mind that this is a chai-flavoured hot chocolate recipe. As such, you don’t want the spice flavours overpowering the chocolate.
Due to this, you may want to make this recipe with the powdered spices instead. Of course, if you enjoy a stronger spice flavour, feel free to go with the whole spices. For a better flavour, crush them up and then add to the rest of the ingredients.
The Right Tea Leaves
Yes, you will have probably made chai a million times by now. Even then, it is a good idea to consider the kind of tea leaves that you will be using in this recipe. It is always a good idea to use the best tea brands for chai so that you get a robust, but sweet flavour.
Use fresh, loose leaf tea that has a good taste and aroma. When you brew it, the tea should be strong. It is only by using high-quality leaves that you can really enjoy the taste of your chai hot chocolate.
Using Cocoa Powder and Chocolate
As you check out the ingredient list, you will notice that this recipe calls for both cocoa powder as well as real, solid chocolate. This combination actually creates a more chocolate-y flavour. You will also find that the resulting hot chocolate is richer and creamier. Due to this, you should make it a point to use both these ingredients as directed.
If you would like to make it easier to use the chocolate, consider using chocolate chips instead. These will melt more easily. It is also easier to measure chocolate chips rather than solid blocks of chocolate. Always chop up the chocolate before adding it to the rest of the ingredients. This will make it easier to dissolve.
Milk Chocolate vs. Semi-Sweet Chocolate
You can use either milk chocolate or semi-sweet chocolate in this recipe. Milk chocolate tends to be milkier and sweeter, with a lower chocolate content. As such, if you use this ingredient, your chai hot chocolate will have these same characteristics. You should be aware that it can be more difficult to melt milk chocolate as well.
Then, there is semi-sweet chocolate. This chocolate is darker and not as sweet. However, it does melt rather easily. If you use this chocolate in the drink, you will get a more complex chocolate flavour, but the drink won’t be as sweet.
Recipe for Chai Hot Chocolate
Ingredients
- ½ cup of water
- 2 tbs. of cocoa powder
- 1 tbs. of sugar
- 2 tbs. of black tea leaves
- 2 cloves, crushed
- ½ tsp. of cardamom powder
- ½ tsp. of cinnamon powder
- ¼ tsp. of ground ginger
- 2 cups of milk
- ¾ cup of milk or semi-sweet chocolate, chopped
Method
- Pour the water into a saucepan and place over heat. When the water has heated a little, add the cocoa powder. Stir until the cocoa powder has dissolved and there are no more lumps.
- Add the sugar and stir once more. Make sure that the sugar has been thoroughly dissolved.
- Add the tea and the spices to the saucepan. Stir to incorporate and then allow the mixture to heat up for around 3 minutes.
- Briefly take the pan off the heat and strain out the tea leaves. Place the mixture back on the heat.
- Bring the ingredients to a boil. Add the milk and stir. Add the chocolate and continue to stir until the chocolate has melted.
- Divide the drink into two cups. Test the sweetness level. If you want to add more sugar, you can do so now.
- You can enjoy the drink as is. Or, top it off with whipped cream or marshmallows.
So, there you have it – the best chai hot chocolate recipe. You are guaranteed to love all the flavours and creaminess that this drink has to offer.
At the same time, you should be aware that there is a bit of trial and error involved here. This is because after your first cup, you may have some ideas of what to add or remove to the recipe. After all, you will need to adjust the drink according to your tastes.
You should feel free to experiment in any way that you like. Just make sure to keep the proper measurements in mind as you do so. It is important for all the flavours to balance each other out. This way, one will not be more noticeable than the others.
As long as you remember the tips and tricks mentioned here, you will be able to make an excellent drink.
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