COFFEE CHAI DISCO
SERVES 3–4
200ml vodka
4 star anise pods, plus extra to decorate
4 chai tea bags (see Kitchen Notes)
80ml coffee liqueur 100ml double cream Ice cubes
Ground cinnamon Cinnamon sticks Dried orange slices
1. Pour the vodka into a pitcher, add the star anise pods and tea bags, and let infuse for at least 2 hours.
2. Remove the tea bags and star anise. Mix in the coffee liqueur and double cream until combined. Taste and add more vodka, coffee liqueur, or cream, according to your personal taste.
3. Fill cocktail glasses with ice and pour the mixture over. Decorate each cocktail with a small pinch of ground cinnamon, a cinnamon stick, and a dried orange slice.
KITCHEN NOTES: If you cannot find chai tea bags, make your own chai blend by mixing black tea with a little ground cinnamon, ground ginger, ground cloves, freshly grated nutmeg, and ground black pepper. Stir this mixture into the vodka, then strain through a fine-mesh sieve after steeping.
HOW TO MAKE DRIED
CITRUS SLICES:
Dried citrus slices are pretty and have a wonderful scent – they are also simple to make.
Preheat the oven to 230°F/ 110°C/ Gas Mark ¼ on fan setting, if available.
Wash and dry citrus fruit of your choice. Using a very sharp knife, cut the fruit crosswise into approximately 5mm slices. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper and place the fruit slices on it in a single layer. Place in the oven for 4 hours, turning the slices over halfway through the cooking time. Transfer them to a rack to finish drying out completely.