A Cup of Tea

As the sun rises, casting a soft golden light across the veranda, I sit down to enjoy a quiet moment with my favorite morning ritual. A steaming cup of masala tea, fragrant with a heady mix of spices, including cardamom, black pepper, cinnamon, cloves, and ginger, warms my hands as I take in the serene beauty of the morning. The spices dance on my tongue with each sip, creating a symphony of flavors that awaken my senses and revitalize my soul. 

The tea’s bold flavor is complemented perfectly by the creamy richness of a slice of toast, drenched with butter and gently grilled to a golden brown. As I take a bite, the crunch of the toast contrasts with the smoothness of the butter, creating a perfect balance of flavors and textures. With each bite and sip, I am reminded that there is much to savor and enjoy, even in the morning’s quiet stillness.

Masala Chai and Toast

Ingredients

For the Masala Chai:

 1 cup of water

2 teaspoons of black tea leaves

1 cup of milk

1-2 tablespoons of sugar (adjust to taste)

1 teaspoon of ground cardamom

 1/2 teaspoon of ground black pepper

1/2 teaspoon of ground cinnamon

 1/2 teaspoon of ground cloves

1/2 teaspoon of ground ginger

For the Toast:

1 slice of your favorite bread

2 tablespoons of butter

Method

1. **Prepare the Masala Chai:** In a small saucepan, combine the water, tea leaves, milk, sugar, cardamom, black pepper, cinnamon, cloves, and ginger. 

2. Bring the mixture to a boil over medium heat. 

3. Once boiling, reduce the heat to low and let it simmer for about 10 minutes. This will allow the flavors of the spices to infuse the tea.

4. While the tea is simmering, **Prepare the Toast:** Preheat your grill or toaster oven. Spread butter evenly across your slice of bread.

5. Toast the bread until it’s golden brown. Be sure to watch it closely to prevent burning.

6. After the tea has simmered, strain it into a cup to remove the tea leaves and spices.

7. Serve the masala chai hot, with buttered toast on the side.

Take a moment to enjoy the blend of flavors and textures, and appreciate the quiet and peaceful start to your day.