| How to Make an Indian Tea Posted: 12 Aug 2020 05:00 PM PDT If you love fragrant tea that's heavily spiced, you'll enjoy most Indian teas. Try making masala chai at home using ginger, cinnamon, cardamom, sugar, and black tea. You could also make a creamy Indian tea that's served in the Himalayas. This buttery tea is traditionally made with yak milk and butter, but you could use cow or goat products. For a specially spiced Indian tea from the Kashmir region, steep green tea with saffron, rose petals, and cinnamon. [Edit]Ingredients [Edit]Masala Chai - A piece of fresh ginger
- cinnamon stick
- of water
- 6 teaspoons (4 g) of strong loose leaf black tea or 6 tea bags
- 14 green cardamom pods or 3/4 teaspoon (1.5 g) of ground cardamom
- of milk
- ¼ cup (50 g) of sugar or pure maple syrup
Makes 4 servings [Edit]Butter Tea - of milk, such as whole milk or goat's milk
- 1 tablespoon (12 g) of sugar
- 2 pinches of baking soda
- 1 teaspoon (5 g) of butter
- 1 teaspoon (2 g) of black tea powder
Makes 1 serving [Edit]Kashmiri Kahwa - 1 teaspoon (2 g) of green tea
- of water
- 10 to 12 strands of saffron
- stick of cinnamon
- 1 clove
- 1 cardamom pod, crushed
- 1/2 teaspoon (6 g) of slivered almonds
- Honey, optional
Makes 3 servings [Edit]Masala Chai - Coarsely grate the ginger and lightly crush the cinnamon stick. Take a piece of fresh ginger that hasn't been peeled and grate it against the coarsest side of a box grater. Then, hit a cinnamon stick lightly with a rolling pin to crush it. Since ginger is an underground produce, you might want to scrape off any soil on it. Put the ginger and cinnamon into a medium-sized pot.[1]
- Bring the water, ginger, and cinnamon to a boil. Pour of water into the pot with the crushed cinnamon and grated ginger. Turn the burner to medium-high heat and heat the mixture until it starts to bubble vigorously.[2]
- If you are not using a teapot which is set aside only for tea making, use a clean vessel without any oil or tangy residue left on it because it might lead to the curdling of milk while boiling.
- Keep the lid off of the pot so the water doesn't boil over and you can see when to reduce the temperature.
- Turn the burner to medium and simmer the liquid for about 20 minutes. Reduce the heat so the water simmers and keep the lid off of the pot so liquid can evaporate. You'll need to stir the liquid occasionally and keep simmering until 1/3 of the liquid has evaporated.[3]
- The simmering water should smell very fragrant once it's finished heating.
- Stir in the tea with the cardamom and steep it for 2 minutes off the heat. Carefully move the pot to a cool burner and stir in 6 teaspoons (4 g) of strong loose leaf black tea or 6 tea bags. Then, lightly crush 14 green cardamom pods to add to the mixture or stir in 3/4 teaspoon (1.5 g) of ground cardamom. Leave the tea to steep for 2 minutes.
- There's no need to use very expensive, high-quality tea for chai. Masala chai is frequently made with strong, inexpensive black tea that you can find at the grocery store or Indian market.
- For a stronger tea, steep it for an extra 1 to 2 minutes. Keep in mind that the tea may become bitter the longer you steep it.
- Stir in the milk with the sugar and boil the chai for 5 minutes. Move the pot back to the warm burner and turn it on to medium-high. Slowly pour in of milk and ¼ cup (50 g) of sugar or pure maple syrup. Then, stir the tea occasionally as it comes to a boil. Let the tea boil for 5 minutes so it foams up.[4]
- You can use your choice of sweetener instead of sugar or maple syrup. Try using honey, agave, or demerara sugar, for instance.
- Cool the chai for 5 minutes and strain it into a serving jug. Turn off the burner and let the chai steep for another 5 minutes. Then, set a fine mesh strainer over a serving pitcher or teapot and pour the chai through it. Pour the chai into small serving cups and sip it while it's hot.
- Discard the solids that are left in the fine mesh strainer.
- If you'd like to store leftover chai, put it in an airtight container within 2 hours and refrigerate it for up to 3 to 4 days.
[Edit]Butter Tea - Bring the milk, sugar, and baking soda to a boil. Pour of whole milk or goat's milk into a pot and stir in 1 tablespoon (12 g) of sugar along with 2 pinches of baking soda. Turn the burner to medium and heat the liquid until it begins to boil.[5]
- For extremely rich and creamy butter tea, try it with half-and-half.
- Stir in the tea powder and boil it for 30 to 60 seconds. Add 1 teaspoon (2 g) of black tea powder to the pot and stir it until it dissolves in the hot milk. Then, keep the lid off of the pot and gently boil the tea over medium heat for up to 1 minute.[6]
- The longer you boil the tea, the stronger the tea flavor will be.
- Some of the milk will evaporate as it boils, which will make the tea thick.
- Strain the tea into a serving cup. Turn off the burner and set a small fine mesh strainer over a serving cup. Slowly pour the tea into the cup and discard the solids that are left in the strainer.[7]
- If you'd like thinner tea, you can top off the tea in your cup with warm or cold milk.
- Stir in the butter and serve the tea. Add 1 teaspoon (5 g) of butter and slowly stir it until it dissolves. If you'd like slightly foamy butter tea, use a whisk to carefully blend the butter into the tea. Then, sip the tea while it's hot.[8]
- If you'd like to make a larger batch of butter tea, you can double or triple the amount and make it in a large pot.
[Edit]Kashmiri Kahwa - Combine the water, saffron, cinnamon, clove, rose, and cardamom in a pot. Pour of water into a medium-sized pot and add 10 to 12 strands of saffron, a stick of cinnamon, and 1 clove. Then crush 1 cardamom pod and add it to the pot.[9]
- If you can't afford very much saffron, use as few strands as you like.
- Bring the mixture to a boil and simmer it for 3 to 4 minutes. Turn the burner to medium-high and heat the liquid until it bubbles vigorously. Then, turn the burner down until the liquid gently simmers.[10]
- Keep the lid off of the pot as it simmers.
- Add the green tea and steep it for 1 minute. Turn off the burner and stir in 1 teaspoon (2 g) of green tea. Leave the pot uncovered and let the tea steep so the flavor can develop.[11]
- For stronger kahwa, add an extra 1 to 2 teaspoons (2 to 4 g) of green tea.
- Strain the kahwa into a serving jug or teapot. Set a fine mesh strainer over a serving jug or teapot and slowly pour the hot kahwa through it. Discard the solids and then pour the kahwa into individual serving cups.[12]
- Stir in honey and slivered almonds before serving the kahwa. To sweeten the kahwa, you can mix in a little honey until it dissolves. Then, sprinkle a few slivered almonds into each cup.
- If you'd like to garnish the drink even more, add a saffron thread to each cup or sprinkle extra dried rose petals on top.[13]
- Refrigerate leftover kahwa in an airtight container for up to 3 to 4 days.
- If you prefer a cup of classic black tea, brew a pot of assam, darjeeling, or nilgiri. These regional teas of India are great on their own or lightly sweetened.[14]
- Make sure your hands and all the utensils used are nicely washed and dried. Otherwise it might curdle the milk.
[Edit]Things You'll Need [Edit]Masala Chai - Measuring cups and spoons
- Medium-sized pot
- Box grater
- Rolling pin
- Spoon
- Fine mesh strainer
- Serving pitcher or teapot
- Serving cups
[Edit]Butter Tea - Small pot
- Measuring cups and spoons
- Spoon
- Small fine mesh strainer
- Serving cup
- Whisk, optional
[Edit]Kashmiri Kahwa - Measuring cups and spoons
- Spoon
- Medium-sized pot
- Fine mesh strainer
- Serving pitcher or teapot
- Serving cups
[Edit]Related wikiHows [Edit]References [Edit]Quick Summary |
| How to Use a Chemex Coffee Maker Posted: 12 Aug 2020 09:00 AM PDT The Chemex brewing system is a simple way to brew high-quality pour-over coffee at home. You've probably seen these elegant glass brewers for sale at local coffee shops. Fortunately, you don't need to be a barista to follow the easy brewing process. As long as you use freshly ground coffee and take your time pouring the water over the grounds, you'll be rewarded with a filtered cup of delicious coffee. [Edit]Folding and Soaking the Filter - Bring a kettle full of water to boil. For the best-tasting coffee, fill a kettle with cold water that hasn't been boiled before and set it on the stove. Turn the burner to high and heat the water until it begins to boil. If you're using an electric kettle, plug it in and turn it on so it boils the water. Plan on boiling at least of water for every small cup of coffee you want to make.[1]
- If you don't have a water kettle, pour water into a saucepan and place a lid on it. Turn the burner to high and heat it until the water boils. You'll need to be extra careful when you pour the water into the Chemex since there isn't a pouring spout on the pan.
- For example, if you're making 5 small servings of coffee, use about 5 rounded tablespoons (35 g) of grounds and a total of of water.
- Fold a round or square Chemex filter into quadrants. Chemex filters are thicker than standard coffee filters and they'll filter out bitterness, oils, and sediment from the coffee. Since the Chemex filters are large and flat, fold a square or round one in half. Then, fold it in half again to make quadrants, which you'll unfold to make a conical shape.[2]
- Open the filter into a conical shape and set it in the Chemex brewer. Hold the folded filter and pull back 1 of the folded sides to make a cone. The opposite side of the filter should be 3 layers thick. Then, set the conical filter in the top of the Chemex so the folded side is against the pouring spout.[3]
- Chemex brewers come in several sizes although the filters are usually one-size-fits-all. This means that paper filters should fit the , , , and brewers.
- Putting the thicker layers near the pouring spout prevents a tight seal from forming, which slows down brewing.
- Pour hot water into the empty filter to rinse it and warm the Chemex. Take hot water from the kettle and carefully pour enough of it into the filter to completely soak the filter. Slowly swirl the hot water in the bottom of the Chemex for a few seconds to warm the glass. Then, pour the hot water out.[4]
- Rinsing the filter before you brew gets rid of any papery taste. The hot water also warms the Chemex so your coffee brews at the right temperature.
[Edit]Blooming the Grounds - Set your brewer on a scale and tare it. Measuring out your coffee and hot water by weight is more accurate than using measuring scoops and cups. It also streamlines the brewing process. Set your Chemex on a digital scale. Then, turn on the scale and tare it so it shows "0." Ensure that the scale is set to grams before you begin.[5]
- If you're not using a scale to brew the coffee, skip this step and measure out your water and coffee grounds by volume instead.
- Add 1 rounded tbsp (7 g) of coffee for every 5 fl oz (150 ml) of water. Use this amount as a starting point for brewing in the Chemex and adjust it next time according to your tastes. If you'd like a stronger brew, try 1 1/2 tablespoons (10 g) per cup.[6]
- For example, if you want to brew 5 servings of coffee, use about 5 rounded tablespoons (35 g) of grounds.
- Use any type of coffee variety or roast when you use your Chemex. If you can, grind the beans yourself for the freshest cup of coffee.
- Start a timer and pour about of hot water onto the grounds. Once the water is around , turn on a timer and begin to pour the water into the grounds in your filter. Use a circular motion to pour just enough water to completely saturate the grounds. Look at your timer and wait until it's reached 30 seconds before you continue to brew.[7]
[Edit]Brewing the Coffee - Pour in enough water to come below the top of the Chemex. Be careful as you slowly pour the hot water in a circular motion. You might find that using a back-and-forth movement helps mix the coffee with the grounds, which also works well. Keep pouring until you're from the top of the brewer.[8]
- Pour slowly so the water doesn't splatter and burn you.
- Wait about 45 seconds before you pour more water into the brewer. The water filters through the grounds and into the bottom of the Chemex as you wait. Pay attention to how quickly the coffee drains into the bottom of the brewer so you know if you need to adjust the coffee's grind next time.[9]
- For example, if the water is flowing really quickly, the coffee will be weak and you may need to make the coffee finer when you grind your next batch.
- If the water hasn't finished filtering into the bottom, it might be too finely ground so make it coarser the next time you grind coffee.
- Pour in the rest of your water and let it brew for a total of 4 minutes. Once you've waited, you'll see damp grounds in the filter and you'll have space to pour more hot water. Add more water to the grounds so you have about of water for each rounded tablespoon (7 g) of coffee. Refer to your timer and let the water keep filtering through the grounds for around 4 minutes total.[10]
- Discard the filter and pour yourself a cup of coffee. Bring the sides of the filter together and hold them for a few seconds so the coffee finishes filtering. Throw away the filter with the grounds and then pour the coffee into mugs.[11]
- You can also compost the coffee grounds or add them to your garden's soil.
- To clean your Chemex, take off the wooden handle and set it aside. Wash the glass brewer with hot soapy water or run it through the dishwasher.[12]
[Edit]Warnings - Always use caution when you pour boiling water.
- Never put a Chemex directly onto an electric coil stovetop since the heat can break the glass.[13]
[Edit]Things You'll Need - Chemex coffee filters
- Chemex coffee maker
- Water kettle
- Measuring spoon or scale
- Timer
- Serving cups
[Edit]Related wikiHows [Edit]References |
| How to Turn Jeans Into a Long Skirt Posted: 12 Aug 2020 01:00 AM PDT If you're looking for a fun way to repurpose your old jeans, design a long skirt using the fabric. If you have a sewing machine, you can easily stitch them into a skirt that's as long as you like. Keep in mind that to sew a skirt that falls near your ankles, you'll need 2 pairs of matching jeans so you have enough fabric to work with. You'll look great in your custom-made skirt while saving fabric from the landfill. [Edit]Cutting the Jeans - Choose 2 pairs of matching denim jeans for your long skirt. One pair needs to fit you well around the waist since you'll use it as the top of the skirt. It doesn't matter how the second pair of jeans fits, as long as the color of the denim matches the other pair.[1]
- If you'd like to make a lighter, flowing skirt, choose jeans that also contain synthetic material, such as elastic, or a polyester blend. The cotton and synthetic material create a stretchier fabric that will make a lightweight skirt.
- Lay the main pair of jeans flat and cut along the entire inner leg seam. Spread the pair of jeans that you're going to use for the main body of the skirt flat on your work surface. Take a pair of fabric scissors and cut near the bottom hem of the pant leg at the inner seam. Cut all the way up the inner leg across the crotch and down the opposite pant leg.[2]
- Do not cut into the seam since this makes the stitches unravel and you'll be using the seam when you assemble the jean skirt.
- Cut about along the vertical seams of the crotch. Start cutting at the middle of the crotch where the vertical and horizontal seams meet. Cut up along the side of the vertical seam by about . Then, flip the jeans over and repeat this for the back crotch. This helps the fabric lay flat instead of puckering up.[3]
- Remember not to cut into the seam itself so the denim doesn't fray.
- It's fine to cut even higher along the crotch so the fabric lays flat. If you accidentally cut too high on the crotch, you can just sew the fabric in place later.
- Overlap the crotch fabric and pin it in place. Once you've cut along the front and back crotch seams, overlap the fabric so the denim lays flat instead of puckers. If it still puckers a little, cut another along the seam. Then, insert a sewing pin through both layers of fabric on each side.[4]
- Position each sewing pin so it's parallel to the top crotch seam.
[Edit]Creating Center Panels - Use scissors to cut the legs off of the second pair of jeans. To give you fabric for the panels of the skirt, spread the other pair of jeans flat on your work surface. Cut from the top of the crotch seams to the side of the jeans without cutting into the back pockets. Try to cut as close to the pockets as you can though, to give you the most fabric to work with.[5]
- Repeat this for the other leg so you have 2 pieces of fabric. You won't need the leftover waist piece from this pair of jeans.
- Cut straight along the inner seam for each leg piece. Take 1 of the pant legs, which looks like a tube, and cut from the bottom hem to the top of the leg. Cut close to the inner leg seam without cutting into the stitches themselves.[6]
- Repeat this for the other leg piece. Now, you'll have 2 wide panel pieces of fabric to use for the center of your jean skirt.
- Arrange the panel pieces in the center between the main pair of pants. Slip 1 of the panels into the center of the first pair of jeans so the right side of the fabric faces up. Move the panel so the bottom edge lines up with the bottom of the original pants and line up the seam so it's in the center. Repeat this for the other panel.[7]
- Pin the edges of the panel pieces in place. Take sewing pins and insert them through both layers of denim. Insert pins about every from the bottom hemline up and around the panel to the opposite hemline. Then, repeat this for the back panel.[8]
- Insert the pins so they're parallel with the seam line.
[Edit]Assembling the Long Jean Skirt - Set up your sewing machine with polyester thread and a denim needle. A polyester thread is stronger than cotton thread, so it won't snap or break as you sew through the thick denim. You'll also need to install a heavy-duty sewing needle that's designed for denim. Most of these needles are labeled "heavy duty" or "denim." If you use a thinner needle, it may break.[9]
- You can choose a thread color that matches the fabric or pick a thread that matches the color of the thread on the jeans, such as gold.
- Adjust the stitch length between . Set the machine to make long straight stitches so the needle is less likely to get stuck in the thick denim. You'll be following the straight stitch line that's already on the inner pant legs.[10]
- If your machine is struggling to stitch through the denim, take it even slower or turn the hand wheel to make stitches.
- Straight stitch along the seam where the panel meets the inner pant leg. Start at the bottom hemline and sew up along the inner leg seam. Sew directly over the existing seams so it goes through the panel underneath. When you reach the crotch, turn the fabric to sew the crotch slit closed. Then, straight stitch down the other inner leg seam.[11]
- Repeat this for the back panel of the skirt.
- Remove the sewing pins as you stitch so you don't accidentally sew over them.
- Turn the skirt inside out and cut off the excess fabric. Flip the skirt so the wrong side of the fabric faces out and you can see the excess fabric of the center panels. Use your scissors to carefully cut the excess panel right along the seam you just sewed. Try to leave about of fabric next to the seam.[12]
- Ensure that you don't cut into your seam or you'll get a hole in the middle of the skirt.
- If you don't want a jean skirt made completely with denim, use your choice of fabric for the center panels instead of working with a second pair of jeans.
[Edit]Things You'll Need - 2 pairs of jeans
- Sewing machine
- Heavy-duty sewing needle
- Polyester thread
- Fabric scissors
- Sewing pins
[Edit]References |
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