The Steaming Cup

Posts Tagged ‘cloves’

Using whole spices in your chai makes for easy measuring.

A creamy chai with the zip of whole peppercorns.

• 2 cups water
• 1 cup milk
• 1 tbs black tea leaves
• 1 3-inch cinnamon stick
• 4 whole cloves
• 4 whole black peppercorns
• 4 whole cardamom pods
• 4 tsp sugar

Heat water to simmering and add tea leaves. Let simmer and steep for about 3 minutes, then stir in the sugar and spices. Continue to simmer for another 5 – 10 minutes, depending on how strong you want your chai. Then pour in the milk, and keep heating until it’s all warmed through.

Strain out the spices and serve hot.

Don't be afraid of the peppercorns, they give this chai its unique taste.

Whole peppercorns give this tea recipe some kick. Actually, the cloves and minced ginger add their own extra kick as well. It’s generally a strong tea recipe.

• 1 quart water
• 1/2 pint milk
• 1 tsp loose black tea
• 3 cinnamon sticks
• 1 inch chunk of ginger
• 2 whole cloves
• 5 whole peppercorns

Peel ginger root, and mince finely. Break up cinnamon sticks into small pieces. Combine all spices in water and bring to a boil. Add milk, and keep heating until almost back to a boil. Stir in tea leaves. Let simmer for 1 or 2 minutes. Strain and serve hot.

You probably will want to make more than 1 cup of this for your friends

A flaming coffee drink that will impress at a party. Maybe a little too showy for your typical morning coffee, but a wonderful spiced recipe when serving coffee cocktails for a crowd.

• 1 cup coffee
• 1 orange
• 5 tbs cognac
• 5 tbs benedictine
• 1 tsp brown sugar
• 3 cloves, whole

Strip off a large piece of orange zest, and poke the cloves into it. Place in the bottom of a mug, with the brown sugar. In a saucepan, mix the cognac and benedictine and heat through. Light the alcohol and pour (flaming) into the mug. Fill mug with coffee and serve.

Serves 1.

Simmering a coffee recipe is a little different but worth the effort

You can really taste the rum in this one, great for a crowd. Simmering with spices for a few hours will build up the flavour of cinnamon and cloves. This recipe isn’t quick, so plan ahead.

• 8 cups hot coffee
• 1 cup dark rum
• 3/4 cup sugar
• 2 cinnamon sticks
• 12 cloves, whole

Heat everything through over low heat and simmer for about 2 hours.

Serves 8 to 10.

A holiday milk and coffee recipe with plenty of spice

A spiced coffee that is perfectly suited for the holiday season, but you can make this cafe au lait style drink any time of the year.

• 1 cup hot coffee
• 8 oz milk
• 1 oz vanilla syrup or extract
• 1/8 tsp cinnamon
• 1/8 tsp brown sugar
• 1/8 tsp allspice
• 1/8 tsp ground cloves

In the bottom of your mug, stir together the spices and vanilla. Fill the cup halfway with hot coffee, then the other half with warm milk.

Serves 2.

A rich and spicy cup of coffee to enjoy

A rich, spicy, sweet coffee delight. You might want to save this recipe for a special occasion.

• 3 cups coffee
• 1/2 cup heavy cream
• 1 cup dark brown sugar
• 1/4 tsp cloves
• 1/4 tsp nutmeg
• 1/4 tsp cinnamon

Blend together brown sugar, cloves, nutmeg and cinnamon. Mix coffee and cream together with the spice mixture. Serve hot.

Serves 4.

A mix of coffee, spices as well as chocolate

A sweet coffee drink, made with chocolate and cloves. Preparation is a bit unusual. You steep the coffee grounds with the other ingredients instead of traditional brewing.

• 8 cups water
• 4 oz ground coffee
• 4 oz sugar (brown)
• 2 cinnamon sticks
• 3 whole cloves
• 1 square of chocolate (semi-sweet)

In a small saucepan, bring water to a boil, then add cinnamon, cloves, sugar and chocolate.

When the mixture comes back to a boil, skim off foam. Reduce the heat to a simmer, then add coffee. Steep for 5 minutes then strain out the coffee grounds and spices. Serve immediately

Serves 8

A little orange gives this spiced coffee recipe a citrus flavor

A mix of ground coffee and spices that you make up before brewing. You’ll fill your home with a wonderful scent as your coffee brews with all this vanilla, cinnamon and cloves.

• 4 tbs ground coffee (fine)
• 1/2 tsp grated orange peel, dried
• 1/4 tsp cinnamon
• 1 inch piece of vanilla bean
• 1/8 tsp ground cloves

Blend dry  ingredients well. Brew by your usual method with 4 cups of water.

Makes enough coffee for 4