Chai Tea

• 4 cups water 
• 3 whole cinnamon sticks 
• 1 vanilla bean, cut into ½-inch pieces 
• ¾ teaspoon ground ginger 
• 1½ teaspoons allspice berries 
• 2 teaspoons cardamom pods 
• ¾ teaspoon whole cloves 
• 4 teaspoons loose black tea, such as Darjeeling 
• 2 tablespoons brown sugar 
• 1⅓ cup cold whole milk

1. Combine all ingredients except the sugar and milk in a large saucepan. Bring to a boil; remove from heat and steep mixture for 15 minutes. 
2. Pour the liquid through a fine mesh strainer into a clean saucepan. Add the brown sugar and cook over medium-low heat for 5 to 10 minutes, stirring occasionally to dissolve the sugar and slightly reduce the tea. Remove from heat and measure out 1 cup of tea into a mug. 
3. With the warming stirrer in place, add the milk to the tank and press the hot milk button. Pour milk into tea and stir. Serve immediately. 

*This recipe makes more tea than is needed for a single serving; however, we like to prepare this as a larger batch for having on hand when desired.