Chocolaty Chai

Ingredients

• 1 2" piece ginger, scrubbed
• 1 3" cinnamon stick
• 10 green cardamom pods
• 4 black tea bags (such as Tetley British Blend or PG Tips)
• ¼ cup honey
• 2 Tbsp. unsweetened cocoa powder
• 2 tsp. vanilla extract
• ¼ tsp. kosher salt
• 1½ cups whole milk
• A mortar and pestle

Steps

1. Crush one 2" piece ginger, scrubbed, one 3" cinnamon stick, and 10 green cardamom pods with mortar and pestle. Transfer to a medium saucepan and add 4 black tea bags (such as Tetley British Blend or PG Tips), ¼ cup honey, 2 Tbsp. unsweetened cocoa powder, 2 tsp. vanilla extract, ¼ tsp. kosher salt, and 4 cups water. Place saucepan over medium heat and bring liquid to a boil, stirring occasionally. Pour in 1½ cups whole milk, stir to combine, and return to a boil.
2. Immediately strain chai through a fine-mesh sieve into mugs; discard spices and tea bags.