Thai Iced Tea

• 7 cups filtered water
• 7 cardamom pods, smashed
• 10 bags black tea
• 1/3 cup sugar
• 3/4 cup sweetened condensed milk
• 1/2 cup half-and-half
• 4 pieces candied ginger or 4 stalks lemon grass or 4 mint sprigs (optional)

1. Combine the water and cardamom pods in a medium saucepan and bring to a boil.
2. Turn off the heat, add the tea bags and stir gently.
3. Steep for 10 minutes, then remove the tea bags.
4. Add the sugar and condensed milk and stir with a wooden spoon until all of the sugar is dissolved.
5. Allow to cool.
6. Remove 1 1/2 cups of the cooled tea mixture from the saucepan and pour this into an ice cube tray.
7. Freeze for at least 4 hours.
8. Strain and refrigerate the remaining tea.
9. When ready to serve, divide the tea ice cubes between four glasses.
10. Fill the glasses with the chilled tea mixture, leaving a little extra space at the top.
11. Top each glass off with 2 tablespoons of the half-and-half.
12. Serve garnished with a slice of candied ginger, a stalk of lemon grass or a mint sprig, if desired.

water, cardamom pods, black tea, sugar, condensed milk, candied ginger

Taken from www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/giada-de-laurentiis/thai-iced-tea.html (may not work)