a tea

i've been begging
my across the street neighbor,
nina,
to invite me for her indian tea.
it's a ritual she does
every afternoon -
before picking up the kids
from school.
it was so creamy and delicious.
here is how she makes it...
get two cups of water to a rolling boil -
in a pot.
with a mortar and pestle,
crush 3 cloves,
3 cardamom pods,
1 cinnamon stick,
1/2 tsp fennel seeds,
& 1 tsp of ajwain (carom seed)

add these to the water -
boil vigorously for about 5 minutes -

add a tea bag - (orange pekoe).
and boil for another minute -

 strain out all the chunks,

and rinse the pot.
put the tea back in the pot -
and back onto the stove.
add about 1 cup of milk -

and boil.
but, watch it carefully
that it doesn't boil over -
or you'll have a mess to clean.
nina transferred the tea
back and forth between the pot
and another jug.
pouring it from up high to create foam.
(be careful not to burn yourself).
this makes about 2 cups of tea -
keep it all for yourself -
or share it with a friend.