Masala Chai - More than a Cup of Tea
Masala Chai — tea infused with spices — is a beloved beverage deeply rooted in Indian tradition, enjoyed in countless variations across homes. Each cup reflects personal and seasonal preferences, with warming spices like fresh ginger, cloves, cinnamon, cardamom, and fennel in winter and lighter, cooling notes such as fennel, cardamom, and cinnamon in summer. This recipe yields two cups of chai using water, milk (or plant-based alternatives for a vegan version), sugar, and loose black tea leaves, enhanced with a customizable selection of aromatic spices. The process involves simmering the spices and sugar in water, adding milk to infuse the aromas, then boiling with tea leaves before straining the mixture into a comforting, flavorful drink best enjoyed warm.
Ingredients 9
1 cup water
1 cup full-fat milk
1 ‒ 2 tsp sugar
2 tsp black tea leaves, loose
Spices
2 ‒ 3 green cardamoms
1⁄2 in cinnamon stick
1 tsp fennel seeds
2 cloves, only in winters
1 tsp fresh ginger, grated or crushed, do not use bottled ginger paste
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Method 5
Coarsely crush the , , , and (if using). Grate or crush the .
Place a heavy-bottomed saucepan on high heat. Pour in the , , and the crushed , , , (if using), and . Bring to a boil. Note : You don't have to use all the spices. Use whatever you have in your pantry. I usually skip Ginger in summers as it is a warming spice.
Add the and gently simmer for 5 minutes, until you can smell all the delicious aromas.
Reduce the heat, add the loose , and bring to a boil for 3–5 minutes.
You will see a thin layer of milk skin start to set on top. Strain the tea and serve warm right away.
Bhavna - The Modern Desi Co's tips
My favourite black tea brands are - Taj Mahal, Wagh Bhakri, Red Label, Dilmah.
Use only fresh ginger, or the milk will split.
You can increase the quantities of all the spices, crush them, add them to the tea leaves and store them. Just add the ginger at the time of making the tea.
Replace full-fat milk with soy milk for a vegan chai. But add the milk as the last step as it may split. You can avoid milk entirely and just have tea with all the spices.
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Notes
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