Chai Spiced Hot Chocolate

📝 Ingredients

• 2 bay leaves
• 8 cloves
• 8 green cardamom
• 2 cups milk
• 2 cinnamon sticks
• 2 tablespoons cocoa powder
• 2 black tea bags
• 1/4 cup of dark or milk chocolate
• 2 teaspoons brown sugar (adjust quantity based on sweet taste preference)
• 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt

👨‍🍳 Instructions

1. 1Using a motor and pestle, pound the bay leaves, cloves and cardamom to a coarse texture.
2. 2Place a heavy bottom saucepan on medium heat and pour the milk followed by the spice mix and cinnamon sticks.
3. 3Give it a mix. Simmer the milk for 10 minutes, stirring frequently to avoid the milk from getting burnt at the bottom of the pan.
4. 4Sprinkle the cocoa powder and stir until the cocoa powder dissolves completely.
5. 5Drop the tea bags and simmer for 2 more minutes. Then, strain the infused cocoa milk into a different pan.
6. 6Place the strained milk back on medium heat and drop the chocolate. Stir until it dissolves. Add sugar and salt. Taste and add more sugar, if you would like it sweeter.
7. 7Pour the Chai Spiced Hot Chocolate in two mugs. Top it with marshmallow or whipped cream and shave some more chocolate on top.