For the waffles:

1. In a medium saucepan, bring milk to a simmer over medium heat. Turn heat down to low and steep chai tea bags for 10 minutes. Set aside to cool.
2. In a large mixing bowl, add flour, baking powder, sugar, cinnamon, cardamom and salt and whisk to combine.
3. In a medium bowl, whisk together chai-steeped milk, butter (make sure it’s cooled), vanilla, and egg yolks. Add the wet ingredients into the dry ingredients and stir to combine.
4. In small bowl, using a hand blender or whisk, beat the egg whites until stiff peaks form. Fold the egg whites into the batter.
5. Pour waffle batter onto preheated waffle iron and cook according to manufacturer’s directions until golden brown.
6. Serve with sautéed pears and optional maple syrup.

For the sautéed pears:

1. Toss sliced pears with lemon juice until ready to cook.
2. Heat butter over medium heat in a sauté pan. Add pears and cook for about 5 minutes. Add cinnamon and maple syrup, and turn down heat to low and cook for another 5-10 minutes.
3. Serve pears over waffles.