Masala chais are an afternoon staple in many Indian homes, and while I myself am a big coffee drinker, I do find myself enjoying a cup of hot spiced tea in the afternoons. On a recent to trip my local Whole Foods in Red Bank, NJ, I stumbled upon a masala tea concentrate by Dona Chai, a small-batch producer of chai concentrates based in Brooklyn. While this is usually something I could make at home, I have to admit that it was the packaging that caught my eye initially.
That afternoon, I made the bold step of making a cup of masala chai INSTEAD of my usual french press (what??) and hoped it wouldn’t disappoint. From the moment I poured the concentrate into my little pot, my kitchen was filled with this lovely scent of cardamom, ginger and cinnamon, exactly how I’d make my own masala chai! As I indulged in my masala tea that afternoon, another thought popped into my head – what if I made this into a cocktail?
After experimenting a little with some gin, I came up with this hot toddy recipe that is just perfect for cold winter nights. If you ever find Dona Chai at your local grocer, do pick up a bottle. You won’t be disappointed!
