Ingredients

  • 2 cups milk
  • 4 teaspoons cornstarch
  • 1 1/4 cups heavy cream
  • 2/3 cup sugar
  • 2 tablespoons light corn syrup
  • 1/8 teaspoon salt
  • 3 tablespoons cream cheese, softened
  • 4 bags, Darjeeling tea
  • 3 1-inch cinnamon sticks
  • 10 green cardamom pods, crushed to reveal seeds
  • 10 cloves
  • 1 star anise

Method

  • In a bowl, stir together 1/4 cup milk and the cornstarch; set slurry aside.
  • In a 4-qt. saucepan, whisk together remaining milk and the cream, sugar, syrup; bring to a boil over medium-high heat. Cook for 4 minutes.
  • Stir in cornstarch slurry. Return to a boil and cook, stirring, until thickened, about 2 minutes.
  • Place cream cheese and salt in a bowl and pour in 1/4 cup hot milk mixture; whisk until smooth. Then, whisk in remaining milk mixture.
  • Add tea, green cardamom pods, cinnamon sticks, cloves, and star anise to milk mixture and steep for 30 minutes. Strain tea and spices removing as much liquid as possible.
  • Allow mixture to chill before processing in an ice cream maker. Transfer ice cream to a storage container and freeze until set.