Dirty Chai Toddy
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Author Notes: My youngest brother is home from college for the holidays. He mentioned to me that during finals week, all he drank was dirty chai – chai with a shot of espresso. I love chai and I love espresso, so I was pretty sure I would like a dirty chai. Add a shot of bourbon, and you have a hot toddy that will erase the troubles of the day, even if it does not put you to sleep. My chai recipe is inspired by one I found at http://www.veetea.com/site/articles/Masala-Chai-Recipes/, with ingredients I had on hand. Note: While green cardamom pods are typically used, I only had black cardamom pods which have a smokier, more pungent quality. I was curious how it would affect the flavor, and I enjoyed the overall balance with the espresso and bourbon. - gingerroot - gingerroot
Food52 Review: This starts out as a fragrant and mildly indulgent chai -- it's made with half-n-half -- and then right before serving you sling in some espresso and bourbon, and suddenly it's a drink with purpose and conviction. - A&M
Serves 2
- For the Chai:
- 8 ounces half and half
- 4 ounces water
- 1 cinnamon stick, broken in half
- 2 black cardamom pods, crushed with a mortar and pestle
- 5-6 pink peppercorns, crushed with a mortar and pestle
- 1 1/2 inch piece of fresh ginger, peeled and flattened with the flat side of a large knife
- 2 tablespoons Turbinado sugar
- 2 sachets of organic whole leaf black tea, preferably Assam
- ***********************************
- For the Dirty Toddy:
- 2 ounces espresso (I used Stumptown Roasters Hairbender)
- 2 ounces Knob Creek, or other good quality bourbon
- Combine half and half, water, spices and sugar in a small saucepan. Bring to a boil and simmer for 8 minutes, stirring occasionally. Remove from heat. Add black tea sachets and steep for 5 minutes. Remove tea sachets, strain out spices and split chai between two pre-warmed teacups. Add one ounce of espresso and one ounce of bourbon to each teacup. Sit back and enjoy.
- This recipe is a Wildcard Contest Winner!
- This recipe was entered in the contest for Your Best Recipe with Coffee
- This recipe was entered in the contest for Your Best Recipe with Cardamom
- This recipe was entered in the contest for A & M's Annual Smackdown / Your Best Hot Toddy
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11 days ago katybeth
how do you get the half and half not to curdle? I made this and could barely strain all the spices out because it got so thick. hmmmmm.......
10 days ago gingerroot
Hi katybeth, Sorry to hear that happened. Although it has never happened when I've made it (I keep the heat at the barest simmer and whisk for a minute or two) someone on the question thread attached to this recipe thought it might be the fresh ginger. She suggested getting everything else simmering first, before adding the ginger. I'd love to know if that solves the curdling issue for you.
about 1 month ago Katya
Where did you get the mug? I love it and can't stop thinking about it.
about 1 month ago fayeballs
me too!!!!
about 1 month ago gingerroot
I'd love to know too. It's gorgeous.
about 1 month ago beejay45
Just came across this, and it sounds amazing. I'm going to try subbing my herbal coffee for the espresso. Sad, I know, but I'm allergic to coffee. Our days are warming up, but the nights up here in the Valley are still chilly enough to justify this lovely tipple.
about 1 month ago gingerroot
Thank you beejay45! Apologies for the belated response, I just found your comment. This will definitely keep you warm on a chilly night.
5 months ago RandyPickles
This reminds me of a spicy, earthy twist on Singaporean coffee!
about 1 month ago gingerroot
Thank you!
over 1 year ago sdebrango
Suzanne is a trusted source on General Cooking.
I made this tonight, tweaked for one serving. I have to admit I resisted because I never had coffee and tea together. Well, I'm a convert, it was absolutely delicious. I didn't have bourbon so I used cognac that was the only change I made. Between this and boulangere's hot chocolate truffle peppermint drink I am set for the winter. Really loved it!!
over 1 year ago gingerroot
Aw, thank you! I'm so glad you enjoyed this, sdebrango. I was skeptical about the coffee-tea combo at first as well, but after a taste I was hooked. I bet cognac would be good, I'll have to try that!
over 1 year ago Jenniferino
so good! i used only 1 tbsp turbinado sugar and it was perfect :)
over 1 year ago gingerroot
So glad you enjoyed it! Thanks for letting me know.
over 1 year ago TheWimpyVegetarian
Oh wow! I totally missed this! Huge congratulations on your wildcard win - well deserved!!!! I was looking at hot toddy recipes and am totally on this one. Happy Holidays gingerroot!!!
over 1 year ago gingerroot
Thank you, ChezSuzanne! I hope you enjoy this if you give it a whirl. Happy Holidays to you and yours as well!!
over 1 year ago dethbird
I drank just the bourbon part. Does that count? :) just kidding
This sounds fantastic
over 1 year ago gingerroot
Thank you, dethbird! Personally, I love the bourbon part.
over 1 year ago drbabs
Barbara is a trusted source on General Cooking.
I'm sorry it took me so long to write you--congratulations on the wildcard win! I had never heard of dirty chai before, but I'm dying to try this!
over 1 year ago gingerroot
Hi drbabs, No apologies - thank you so much! I'd love to hear your thoughts if you try it!
over 1 year ago EmilyC
Congrats, gingerroot, on your wildcard win! This looks like the perfect cold weather pick-me-up!
over 1 year ago gingerroot
Thanks so much, EmilyC!
over 1 year ago hardlikearmour
hardlikearmour is a trusted home cook.
This is really good! Not to sweet, not too strong, just perfect! Cheers!
over 1 year ago gingerroot
I'm thrilled that you tried this, and it means a lot to me that you enjoyed it!
over 1 year ago Lisa Hyde-Mills
Hi, What is half & half ? I'm guessing milk of some kind? I haven't seen it in Australia.
Cheers
LIsa
over 1 year ago hardlikearmour
hardlikearmour is a trusted home cook.
Half milk & half cream.
over 1 year ago susan g
I made this at 3 AM last night, and drank just the chai. In the morning I added the expresso. So good either way. Eventually, the bourbon. Wonderful how the Wildcard makes treasures like this pop up.
over 1 year ago gingerroot
Thank you, susan g! So glad you enjoyed the Dirty Chai and hope you like the toddy version too.
over 1 year ago Kitchen Butterfly
Congrats ginger root. It looks wonderful and is beautifully captured
Nicole Franzen/Photo composer/A&M - that photo is worthy of high praise. Simply, stunning. I love the hint of grey wool in the background, the hands wrapped around the cup to receive warmth and the gorgeousness of the cup itself.
over 1 year ago gingerroot
Thank you, KB. I could not agree more about the photo - it is gorgeous!
over 1 year ago wssmom
YAY, gingerroot!!
over 1 year ago gingerroot
Thank you, wssmom!
over 1 year ago lapadia
Cheers and Congratulations, gingerroot! :)
over 1 year ago gingerroot
Thanks so much, lapadia! It was a terrific surprise.
over 1 year ago Sagegreen
Congrats, gingerroot. It sure is becoming hot toddy weather up here in New England!
over 1 year ago gingerroot
Thank you, Sagegreen! I hope you enjoy this if you give it a try.
over 1 year ago gingerroot
Thanks so much, everyone!! What a fabulous surprise at the end of a long week. It's not quite toddy weather here yet, but I'll be having a bourbon tonight (which I discovered I enjoy thanks to this contest). Cheers!
over 1 year ago monkeymom
Yay gingerroot! Congrats!
over 1 year ago Lizthechef
Gosh, I really had to work to re-find this on the blog...Are you listening, dear food52?? Beautiful!
over 1 year ago gingerroot
Thank you, Liz! It has taken me a bit to be able to reply to you, but I appreciate it.
over 1 year ago drbabs
Barbara is a trusted source on General Cooking.
Congratulations on your wildcard win! I love this--can't believe I missed it when you first posted it.
over 1 year ago gingerroot
Thanks so much, drbabs! I hope you enjoy this if you try it. Apologies for such a belated response.
over 1 year ago mrslarkin
Mrs. Larkin is a trusted source on Baking.
yay gingerroot!! congrats on your yummy wildcard win!! I'd have one right now, but I'm drinking a beer. ;)
over 1 year ago gingerroot
Thanks so much, mrslarkin! Apologies for my belated response - I'm only getting some notifications and then had a really busy week. You crack me up!
over 1 year ago sdebrango
Suzanne is a trusted source on General Cooking.
Congrats Gingerroot on the wild card win, this sounds so good think I am going to have one right now!!
over 1 year ago Bevi
Congrats on your win, gingerroot!
over 1 year ago fiveandspice
Emily is a trusted source on Scandinavian Cuisine.
Wahoo! Congrats on the wildcard GR! You're a powerhouse!
over 1 year ago hardlikearmour
hardlikearmour is a trusted home cook.
Congrats on your wildcard win! I can't think of a more perfect fall/winter warmer!
over 2 years ago Ms Nickel
gingerroot: I have found my new mid-morning pick me up--minus the whiskey! Wow that's tasty. Can't wait to try it later with some "straightener" as my Dad used to call it.
Thanks
over 2 years ago gingerroot
Cheers, Ms Nickel! Glad you enjoyed the chai...wait till you add the whiskey!! Happy New Year!
over 2 years ago Ms Nickel
Can I suggest Maker 46 with this--it sounds wonderful, and I may have to make one right now. The Makers 46 is a new whiskey, and I just bought a bottle to try, and it has a distinct soft vanilla finish that would be delicious with this
over 2 years ago gingerroot
Yum! Thanks for the recommendation. I will keep my eye out for that bottle.
over 2 years ago hardlikearmour
hardlikearmour is a trusted home cook.
Congrats on your EP! I definitely want to make this one. It's supposed to be especially wet and nasty in Portland this winter, so I should have lots of opportunity.
over 2 years ago lapadia
Congrats on your EP, gingerroot!
over 2 years ago gingerroot
Thanks, lapadia! Cheers and Happy New Year!
over 2 years ago Nora
Can anyone tell me about the beautiful glass in the photo?
over 2 years ago Sagegreen
Love this, too!
over 2 years ago hardlikearmour
hardlikearmour is a trusted home cook.
This looks really good. I love dirty chai! Nice taste in coffee, gingerroot.
over 2 years ago gingerroot
Thanks, hardlikearmour! You are lucky to live in such a coffee-rich city! I'm hoping to post a photo tonight.
over 2 years ago hardlikearmour
hardlikearmour is a trusted home cook.
yeah, but you live in Hawaii!
over 2 years ago VanessaS
Looks delicious!
over 2 years ago gingerroot
Thanks, VanessaS.