Masala Chai Recipe (Indian Masala Tea)

Masala Chai Recipe (Indian Masala Tea)

Indian masala chai is one of the most enjoyed beverages in India. Masala meaning a mixture of spices is simmered along with milk and tea leaves or powder. Then it is lightly sweetened with sugar. This recipe will give you masala tea that you would get in any standard Indian restaurant.

Prep Time2

Cook Time8

Total Time10

Servings: people

Author: Swasthi

Ingredients

Method 1 - Instant masala chai powder

4 green cardamoms (elaichi or ¼ teaspoon ground)
2 cloves (3 for stronger flavor or ⅛ teaspoon ground)
½ to ¾ inch cinnamon piece (cassia or Ceylon or ⅛ teaspoon ground cinnamon)
2 pepper corn (or a pinch of ground pepper, optional)

To make Tea

1½ cups water
1 cup full fat milk (adjust to taste, Refer notes)
2½ to 3 teaspoons black tea leaves or 1¼ to 1½ teaspoon tea powder (dust) (or 3 to 4 tea bags, Refer notes)
2 to 3 teaspoons sugar or as needed
½ teaspoon (½ inch) ginger chopped or crushed (optional)

Method 2 - Makes 3 tsp masala chai powder

1 teaspoon green cardamoms (5 grams skinned) (elaichi)
½ teaspoon cloves (2 grams)
2½ to 3 grams cinnamon (cassia or Ceylon)
¼ teaspoon fennel seeds (1½ grams) (saunf)
¼ to ½ teaspoon black pepper corn (½ tsp ground pepper)
½ teaspoon nutmeg grated or ⅓ of large nutmeg
2 petals star flower (star anise) (chakri phool)

Instructions

How to make Masala Chai (Method 1)

Add cloves, cardamom, cinnamon stick & black pepper to a mortar pestle or a spice grinder. Crush or grind them to a powder.
Heat water in a pot. Add the ground spices, crushed/chopped ginger and tea. (Start with lower amount of tea and if required you may add more after adding milk)
Bring this to a rolling boil and reduce the heat to medium. Boil for 3 mins until the decoction turns dark.
Pour milk and add sugar. Bring it to a boil on a medium high heat. (If using tea bags remove them at this stage and keep aside.)
Reduce the heat and simmer until the chai (tea) becomes dark, for about 2 mins.
When the masala tea is ready, you will see a layer of cream on top and also the milk flavor is gone.
Optionally aerate or pull your masala chai for the same Chaiwallah taste. Take a soup ladle and aerate the masala chai or simply pour some chai to a measuring cup. Pour the hot tea in a slow stream, back to the chai pot from a height of 1 to 1½ feet.
Repeat this step of pulling hot masala chai from the pot to the cup, a few times (4 to 5 times). This breaks down the layer of cream and incorporates it back to the masala chai making it more tasty and thick.
Strain the masala chai to serving cups & serve with any breakfast, snack or biscuits.

Method 2 - Making masala chai powder or chai masala

Clean all the spices and add to a blender jar. Powder finely. Store it in an airtight glass jar.
Use about ½ to ¾ tsp or more to make 2 servings of tea. For stronger tea you can use about ¾ tsp.

Video

Watch Masala Chai Video

Nutrition