Dissolve two yeast packets in the warm milk.

Open 15-18 cardamom pods and grind the seeds in a mortar and pestle.

Add the cardamom to the beaten eggs along with the salt.

Cream the sugar and butter.

Add the cardamom/egg mixture to the creamed butter and sugar, and mix well.

Next, add the milk and yeast and mix until combined.

Add the flour one cup at a time until you can knead the dough.

Continue adding flour until the dough feels soft and satiny to the touch, with no stickiness.

Place the dough into a large, buttered bowl.

Let it rise until it's doubled in bulk, about two hours.

Punch down the dough.

Divide it into three equal parts.

Take one of the three sections and divide it again into three parts, rolling each piece into a rope about 12-15 inches long.

Braid the loaf, tucking the ends underneath when you're finished.

Place in a buttered and floured loaf pan and repeat with the other two sections.

Let the braided dough rise in the loaf pans until doubled in bulk, about 1 1/2 hours.

Preheat oven to 350° F.

Bake loaves for 35-40 minutes.

Remove from the oven and turn out onto cooling racks that have been placed on a sheet of waxed paper.

If the bottom feels too mushy, put back in the pan and give it a while longer.

Test for doneness by knocking on the top of the loaf to see if it sounds a bit hollow.

Brush the nisu with strong black coffee, sprinkling sugar as you go.

Let cool, and try to not to eat the whole loaf!