Considered holy men and healers by ancient Egyptians and Indians, snake charmers have walked the lands for centuries, if not millennia. While in Egypt, they were mostly learned entertainers who could be claimed to heal through their mystifying arts, in India, it goes much deeper.
Snakes, particularly cobras, are considered directly related to the holy Naga of various Indian belief systems. As such, snakes are protected by many gods, and those who can sway them are considered decidedly holy men. These days, the practice is dying out as ownership of snakes has been outlawed in India.
To represent this time-honored tradition, we tweaked a traditional Indian masala chai with some more... unusual ingredients. We opted for a pu-erh base to give a rich earthy texture to the drink, peppermint to give a slight bite to it, and soothing vanilla to represent the dazing hypnotism. This blend is a beloved classic from our old business, and remains beloved to this very day. We suggest making it as a vanilla soy latte
Snake Charmer — Peppermint Vanilla Masala Chai
- Use 20g (≈2-3 tbsp) of leaf per ½ liter (≈17 oz).
- Steep 2 minutes in ¼ liter (≈8 oz) boiling (100°C/212°C) water
- Add ¼ liter (≈8 oz) hot milk (we recommend whole milk), steep another 3 minutes.
- Strain leaves, add sugar if you like (1 tsp is what we suggest), and enjoy!
