Everyday jaggery chai

The chai that makes the case for jaggery in one cup. 10 minutes · serves 2.

You'll need

2 cups water · 1 cup milk · 2 tsp black tea · 1-inch ginger, crushed · 2 tbsp Nector Harvest jaggery powder · optional: 1 crushed cardamom.

Method

1. Boil the water with the crushed ginger for 2 minutes so it turns fragrant.
2. Add the tea and simmer 1 minute.
3. Pour in the milk, bring back to a simmer, and let it come up twice for body.
4. Take off the heat, stir in the jaggery powder until fully dissolved — adding it at the end keeps the milk from splitting.
5. Strain and serve hot.

Why it works: jaggery brings a rounder, caramel sweetness that sugar can't — it belongs with ginger and cardamom.