Parsi Choi (Tea)
As many of you who have been with me since 2012 already know, I start each day, with a steaming hot fragrant cup of Chai or Indian tea. In this post, the flavorful cup of tea is a personal favorite called Parsi-style ‘Choi’ as pronounced by us Parsi folk. Choi is essentially infused with mint leaves and optionally lemongrass, along with fresh ginger root and cardamom.
This cuppa Choi has been kick-starting my mornings ever since I can remember; a tea I can prepare with my eyes shut (most mornings, I’m pretty sure I do just that!). And it makes a great pick-me-up during the afternoon slump on a workday.
Parsi ‘Choi’ or Chai, an Indian Tea Infused with Fresh Mint, Ginger and Lemongrass along with Cardamom
There are three key aspects to keep in mind while making Parsi ‘Choi’ or Chai-Indian Tea:
1. Brewing is an important step when it comes to making a perfect cup of tea, and even more so when the tea in question is any version of Indian Chai. The complex mix of spices, aromatics, herbs, milk, and tea leaves, all need to infuse together for a truly flavor-packed brew.
2. Parsi Choi’s use of lemongrass and mint brings a whole new dimension to the much-loved Indian Chai concept. Use lemongrass based on personal tastes, this strong Asian herb is best used sparingly. Mint, ginger, and cardamom also impart plenty of great taste to the Parsi Choi.
3. Ginger in a Chai offers anti-inflammatory and immunity-boosting properties and is known to help fight colds and open sinuses, especially at the start of a day. For a milder flavor, cut ginger into slices instead of grating it. Also worth noting is that Chai demands the use of ginger root and not ginger powder, which is a different flavoring.
Parsi Mint and Cardamon Choi (Chai)
Brewing and Boiling Are Key to Making
a Flavorful Cup of Indian Chai or Parsi ‘Choi’
Use the recipe in this post to make a cup of Parsi Choi tea from scratch. Or make your life simpler with my recently launched handcrafted blends of Chai Tea and one is them is the Parsi Choi. You can purchase it as part of the variety box or as a single pack in the shop.
The custom blends make your life simpler since everything you need, except milk and sugar, is part of the blend including black tea comprising of a mix of CTC and long leaves, along with freshly ground cardamom, dried ginger root, lemongrass, mint, and a touch of rose petals for fragrance.
Make Parsi Choi using my blend on the stovetop (video below). Or using an infuser, or make a Choi Latte, both videos can be found on this page.
Parsi Mint and Cardamon Choi (Chai)
Ingredients
- 3 cups boiling hot water
- 1½ teaspoons loose black tea leaves or 2 bags of black tea
- 8-10 mint leaves shredded by hand
- 1 lemongrass leaf stalk, about 12 inches long, cut into 1-inch pieces
- 2-3 whole cardamom pods cracked open (or ¼ teaspoon ground cardamom)
- ½ teaspoon ginger root, grated or cut ginger in pieces for a milder flavor
- ¼ cup milk of choice, see note
- 2 teaspoons sugar adjust to your tastes or use a sugar substitute
Instructions
- In a deep saucepan, add boiling hot water along with black tea leaves (if using tea bags, do not add them right now), mint leaves, cut lemongrass, and cardamom (if using whole, open the cardamom pods and put the seeds and shells in) and grated or cut ginger.
- Bring the herbs and spices-infused tea to a rolling boil. If you're using tea bags, add them at this stage. Let the black tea brew on a medium flame for 1-2 minutes and then add the milk of your choice.
- Once this Choi/chai preparation comes to a complete boil (keep an eye on this stage so the tea doesn't boil over,) turn off the flame. The tea will have a rich brown color.
- Strain the Parsi 'Choi' into a teacup and enjoy the steaming hot brew with your favorite tea snack.
Notes
Milk in 'Choi' Preparations: From fat-free to whole milk, and soy milk to rice or almond milk; feel free to use your milk of choice per dietary preferences in all Chai preparations. The recipe above provides a strong cup of Parsi Choi/chai; for a milder outcome, increase the quantity of milk as per your taste.
