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Chocolate, potato chips, coffee, fresh baked cookies, Nutella…if only authors received supernatural metabolism increase to accompany our job. I would feel much less guilty snacking.
All of us have “those foods”—those foods that complete the perfect atmosphere. Popcorn with a movie, coffee with a good book, or watermelon in the summer. For me, the dominating delicacy to accompany my writing is the perfect chai latte. Middle of summer or the middle of a blizzard, I must have my chai. One cup a day (okay, maybe two.) is my limit. I’ve tested and internally judged chais from chain and private coffee shops in America and different countries. I’ve tried powder based, liquid based, instant, latte, and unsweetened chai. I know it looks like an obsession, but it’s more of a hobby when I’m traveling and it’s paid off with a few irreplaceable favorites!
When I lived in Missouri, I spent every Monday at Java Junction, a most delightful coffee shop. The owner had his own secret recipe, with which he made delectable chai lattes with loose leaf tea. It wasn’t too thick or milky, and the concentrate, for some magical reason, didn’t affect my lactose intolerance.
When my husband and I moved to a 1,400-person-town in Idaho, I started missing my “writing drink.” I scoured Pinterest and Google to find something that came close. The elusive chai concentrate went through many stages before I danced the victory jig. It’s not exactly like Java Junction’s—I don’t think I’ll ever master their recipe—but this is a nice substitute until I can return to my corner table in Missouri.
Ingredients:
1 14oz can of Sweetened Condensed Milk
1 tsp of cardamom
1 tsp ground ginger
1/2 tsp cloves
1/2 tsp cinnamon
1/2 tsp allspice
Instructions: Mix it all together, add two tablespoons to a cup of your favorite black tea. Store in fridge until next indulgence! (lasts at least a month if refrigerated.)
It costs me about $0.25 per cup. Pretty good deal!
What are some of your favorite snacks/drinks while you write or work?
See the other posts in my “9 Perks to Being an Author” series:
- Perk 1: Writing
- Perk 2: Reading
- Perk 3: Decorating
- Perk 4: Comfort
