Tea Panna Cotta (Dessert - Italian Style)

   
          This is an amazing Italian dessert where I gave a tea flavor to it. I used Agar Agar powder for the thickening. Traditionally it is prepared with milk and / or cream. But in this recipe, I made use of some full fat milk with two other flavoring agents - cardamom and cinnamon powder besides tea bags. It is a light after-meal dessert. You can experiment with the tea flavors by adding Earl Grey Tea, Green Tea, etc. So check out the step by step pictorial recipe to prepare it.

• 2-3 tea bags
• 1 tsp. ginger, grated
• 2-3 cardamoms, bruised
• 500 ml. full fat milk
• 1 cup hot water
• 1 & 1/2  tbsp. agar agar powder
• 1/2 cup powdered brown sugar or to taste
• 1/4 tsp. of cinnamon powder
• 1/2 tsp. vanilla essence
• chopped dry fruits to garnish

          Place the tea bags along with ginger and cardamoms in a bowl and add 1/2 cup hot water to it. Cover and keep aside for 30 minutes to brew. Then strain it and keep the liquid aside. 

          Meanwhile bring the milk to a boil. Add sugar and cinnamon powder. Stir to dissolve. Simmer for 5 minutes on low flame by stirring continuously. Add the vanilla essence, mix well and keep aside to cool.

          Add the agar agar in remaining hot water and mix well so that there are no lumps. When the milk has cooled down, add the agar agar mix and the tea liquid. 

          Stir well and pour into individual glasses. Refrigerate for 4-5 hours for it to set properly. Garnish with chopped nuts and serve as an after meal dessert.

                      Pour hot water over tea bags, ginger & cardamoms. Set aside for 30 
                      minutes to brew.

                                 Strain & keep the liquid aside.

                     Bring milk to a boil. Add sugar & cinnamon powder. Stir continuously. 
                     Add vanilla essence & set aside to cool. 

                Mix agar agar in remaining hot water. Add to the cooled down milk, mix 
                well & pour into individual glasses. Refrigerate to set.

Garnish with chopped nuts & serve.