Welcome to chai

One thing I never go without is masala chai. In every country cycling through I produce it, or it is produced for me. I always have my own roasted and pounded spices with me. Always! Except nowadays in South America: I can not find cardamom, and if I do, it is crazily expensive!

To add some strong flavor to your average tea and turn it into Indian chai without being too masalafied, here comes a good mixture. The family I stayed with in Pakistan did not like it, my Pakistani friend pretended to like it and his sister found it a pity for the mortar where I grained the spices in. But it’s good.

This is what you need

• A tablespoon black pepper
• A tablespoon cardamom
• A tablespoon cloves
• A tablespoon cumin seeds
• A tablespoon coriander seeds
• Plus a big piece of cinnamon cut into pieces
• One nutmeg
• I often add dried chili’s as well. You can add whatever you desire, like star anise or black cardamom

Put everything in a pan, heat for ten minutes on low fire. Except the nutmeg. Keep it in constant move by a wooden spoon. Being heated gives the spices more flavor and your place will smell delicious indeed. Let it cool down. Then grind it in small portions. When finished mix with the scraped nutmeg and keep it in an airtight container. If you like add dried chilli seeds as well.

This is how you make real good masala chai

For one big mug get 50% milk and 50% water, put water in a pan together with  about 2 teaspoons of granulated tea and 1/4 teaspoon of the masala spices. Bring to a boil and add the milk, put in sugar or any other sweetener, if you like. When the tea has come to a boil, switch off fire source and pour through a sieve: the chai is ready.

Yearrrssss later…

Another mixture is cardamom, black pepper and cumin seeds, as told by an Indian waiter in Oliva, Spain. Everyone has its own mixture and as of today I keep it simple and use hafer drink instead of milk. The advantage is that you need half amount of black tea.

The best black tea comes from India and I like Wagh Bakri and PG Tips and not in tea bag form!

Cardamom seeds, whole black pepper & fennel seeds

I want to grow in creative embroidery, learn techniques I come across on my travels and create beautiful and usefull items.

I want to sell my handmade embroidered pouches via my creative weblog.

Besides continuing to explore the world together with my husband Geo, I want to find the Truth, live a sensefull life, grow in a setting I was never before, unlearn learnt things, stay close to nature, and away from things that doesnn’t matter, find out new ways of transport such as a kickbike and my own two little feet.

Stay focussed. Creative. Receptive.

I want to create beauty to the eyes, even when I won’t sell a thing, cook, prepare chai and contemplate, to keep my blessed health and sane mind. I want to work for my living, not more than I need, either receive financial income or lodging, keep my detachment from so called society and remain out of the prison called secured life.

I want to live a down to earth life with very little possesions (I must be able to carry all by myself), very little liabilities, a healthy husband, dad, sister, her family and self. A more sustainable lifestyle where I am not too close to supermarkets.

Challenge myself in outdoor activities which are daunting, be out and about with Geo, thankful to be have found such a good fit!

Travel. Explore. Rest.

I want to come closer to creation and eliminate mumbo-jumbo we are told, stay true to what I feel is right. I want to find true meaning in life, my very own vocation.

A cat?

2018

Often I add only fresh ginger