Basic Chai Tea - cooking recipe

Ingredients

1 cinnamon stick
6 allspice berries
6 whole green cardamom pods or 6 white cardamom pods
1/4 teaspoon whole black peppercorn
1/8 teaspoon fennel seed
1/4 teaspoon ground ginger
ground cloves, a pinch
2 teaspoons black assam tea leaves
2 teaspoons sugar (to taste)
1 cup whole milk

Preparation

With the side of a cleaver or chef's knife, gently crush the whole spices, then add them to a small saucepan, along with ginger, cloves, tea leaves, and sugar.
Add in 1 cup water and bring to a boil over medium heat.
Cover pan and remove from heat; steep for 3 minutes.
Return pan to low heat and add in milk.
Bring to just a simmer, then pour through a fine-mesh sieve into 2 warmed teacups or small mugs.
Serve immediately.