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Karak Tea

This karak tea combines black tea, condensed milk, and warm spices for a creamy, comforting beverage ready in just 15 minutes.
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Prep Time 5 minutes
Cook Time 10 minutes
Total Time 15 minutes
Servings: 4 cups
Course: Beverage
Cuisine: Middle Eastern, South Asian
Calories: 180
Ingredients Equipment Method Notes

Ingredients
  

Main
  • 4 cups water
  • 4 teaspoons loose leaf black tea or 4 tea bags
  • 1/2 cup condensed milk
  • 4 cardamom pods lightly crushed
  • 1 cinnamon stick broken into pieces
  • 3 to 4 whole cloves
  • 1 thin slice ginger optional
  • Pinch of salt

Equipment

  • Medium saucepan or tea pot
  • Measuring spoons and cups
  • Wooden spoon for stirring
  • Fine mesh strainer or tea strainer
  • Serving cups or mugs (4)
  • Kettle for boiling water (optional)

Method
 

  1. Pour 4 cups of water into a medium saucepan and bring to a rolling boil over high heat.
  2. Add 4 lightly crushed cardamom pods, broken cinnamon stick pieces, and whole cloves; let spices bloom for 1 minute.
  3. Stir in 4 teaspoons loose leaf black tea or 4 tea bags, reduce heat to medium-high, and steep for 3 to 4 minutes until deep amber.
  4. Pour in 1/2 cup condensed milk and stir constantly for 2 to 3 minutes until smooth and creamy.
  5. Taste the tea and adjust sweetness or spice level by adding more condensed milk or a pinch of ground cardamom or cinnamon if desired.
  6. Remove the saucepan from heat and strain the tea through a fine mesh strainer into serving cups, discarding solids.
  7. Serve the karak tea immediately while hot.

Notes

If desired, brew a concentrated batch of tea and spices ahead of time, refrigerate, then reheat and finish with fresh condensed milk for a quick serving.