Ingredients:

• 8 cups (about 1/2 gallon) apple cider
• 1 orange, thinly sliced
• 1 lemon, thinly sliced
• 4-5 cinnamon sticks
• 1 teaspoon whole cloves
• 1/2 teaspoon whole allspice berries (optional)
• 1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg
• 1-2 inches fresh ginger, sliced
• Optional: 1/4 cup brown sugar or maple syrup for added sweetness
• Optional: Star anise for additional spice and garnish

Instructions:

1. In a mortar and pestle or using the back of a spoon, lightly crush the cinnamon stick, cloves, cardamom pods, and black peppercorns to release their flavors,
2. Place the crushed spices, fresh ginger, star anise (if using), and ground nutmeg (if using) in a small bowl. This mixture is your chal spice mix.
3. In a small saucepan, combine the water and the chai spice mix. Bring it to a boil, then reduce the heat and simmer for about 5-7 minutes to infuse the water with the spices.
4. Add the black tea bag or loose-leaf black tea to the saucepan and let it steep for 3-4 minutes, or according to the tea's instructions.
5. While the tea is steeping, heat the milk in another saucepan or in the microwave until it's hot but not boiling.
6. Once the tea has steeped, remove it from the heat and strain it into a cup.
7. Add the hot milk to the cup, stirring well to combine the tea and milk.
8. Sweeten your chai latte with honey or maple syrup to taste. Start with 1-2 tablespoons and adjust to your preference.Your homemade chai latte is ready to enjoy! You can garnish it with a sprinkle of ground cinnamon or a cinnamon stick if you like.
9. Feel free to adjust the spice level and sweetness to suit your taste and Enjoy!