There’s one thing that Starbucks has done that will forever benefit the world – it introduced me to the wonders of Chai Lattes. Okay… maybe that doesn’t benefit the entire world…

So, you’ll need:

• 6 cups water
• 6 good quality black tea bags (but nothing ‘scented’ like Earl Grey)
• 2tsp ground cinnamon
• a dozen cloves
• ‘some’ grated ginger (accurate quantities are for the soft :) )
• 2 bay leaves
• 12 peppercorns
• 10 cardemom pods
• ‘some’ honey (Last time I added a frightening 10 tbps of lime blossom honey, which seemed about right)
• 6tbsp vanilla essence (and don’t look at the price label)

Following the tradition of easy ‘recipes’:

• Put the water in a pan and bring to the boil
• Throw the teabags in
• After 5 minutes or so, add everything but the vanilla
• Simmer (and stir) for half an hour
• Hook everything out and add the vanilla
• Leave to cool

Use to taste, but I’ve been adding 3tbsp to a pint of milk for chilled lattes. If you’re making it hot then you may want slightly more syrup, but you may want to cut down on the honey (because cold food tastes less sweet than hot).