Spiced Chai Concentrate - cooking recipe

Ingredients

4 1/2 cups water
1 stick cinnamon
1 (3 inch) fresh ginger, chopped
7 whole cardamom pods, crushed
2 whole star anise pods, crushed
5 whole cloves
1 teaspoon peppercorn
1/2 teaspoon freshly ground nutmeg
1 teaspoon orange zest (optional)
10 regular-size bags black tea (or 10 teaspoons loose tea is best) or 10 green tea (or 10 teaspoons loose tea is best)
1/2 - 2/3 cup brown sugar (to taste)
1 tablespoon honey
1 tablespoon vanilla

Preparation

Prepare the spices and the tea; set aside. Bring the water to a boil and remove from heat. Add the spices and the tea bags then allow the mixture to steep for 15 minutes.
Strain the mixture into a 4-cup glass measuring cup or large bowl, discarding the spices. Add the sugar, honey and the vanilla and stir until the sugar has dissolved. Pour the mixture into a jar and store in the refrigerator.
To serve, mix 1 part concentrate with 1 part milk or half-and-half. Heat for a warm beverage or pour over ice to enjoy cold.