Vanilla & Honey Chai Tea - cooking recipe

Ingredients

4 cups water
2 whole cardamom pods
1/2 teaspoon of grated ginger
8 whole cloves
4 black tea, teabags
1 cup milk
1/3 teaspoon vanilla
clover honey
1 pinch salt (optional)

Preparation

When you are making brewed tea, it is important to use a pot that has NOT had regular use for greasy foods, tomato sauces, or soups. I reserve a medium pot exclusively for boiling water for tea. Of course, I am fussy about my tea. Good tasting tea needs good tasting water in a clean pan. Use a good bottled water from a natural spring if it's a available. It does make a difference, and so does the tea your using. A quality organic tea, i.e. ,St Balfours or Infusions, makes a cup of tea over which you will want to linger. The bouquet and body of organic teas are superior to other commerical teas.
While your tea is brewing, warm a teapot and/or the cups that you will be using. Fill them with hot water, and let them sit under a cotton kitchen towel until you are ready to serve the tea.
At high heat, boil the 4 cups of water containing the cardamom pods, ginger, cloves, vanilla and the pinch of salt (optional) for 5 minutes.
Add the tea bags and simmer 3 to 4 minutes.
Add the milk, and increase the heat until the mixture boils. Watch the mixture closely at this stage, so the milk won't scald. Occasionally, stir the tea.
Remove from the heat, and strain the tea into the warmed teapot or cups.
Add clover honey to taste.