Masala Chai is an Indian spiced tea made with whole spices, tea powder and milk. Masala Chai is perfect for a winter evening as it is so comforting. Lets learn how to make Masala Chai Recipe with step by step pictures and video. It takes just 10 mins to make fragrant and aromatic Masala Chai.
Masala Chai is one of the popular and favorite drinks in India. Many of us enjoy tea after breakfast in the morning and after meals mid noon or evening.
About Masala Chai
Masala Chai is an Indian beverage made with whole spices as main ingredients and is packed with strong flavour. The whole spices include cinnamon, cloves, ginger, cardamom etc. Masala chai can be made using a different combination of flavours but I have given the recipe with the basic spices used. Compared to other tea recipes this masala chai is my favorite.
Tea is one of the most common beverage had in most of Indian homes. Each family have their own version of making tea according to their personal choice of ingredients and measures. Tea is considered to keep our body warm so may be thats the reason its popular in most of chill locations. However many people in India have tea throughout the year.
This masala chai is full of flavour perfect for this chill weather. I usually make masala chai during winters when I feel like having spiced hot tea. Hubby loves all tea varieties so make for him too. Tea has become an integral part of many households and ours is no exception, I have tea once during evenings which is very refreshing to run between chores and the kids.
How to make Masala Chai / Masala Tea
There are two ways to make Masala Chai:
1.From fresh ingredients from the scratch as shown here in this post
Masala Chai Ingredients
- Milk : Use fresh thick milk for making tea.
- Tea powder : You cna use any tea powder you like. I use a mix of tea powders to achieve a more unique fragrant flavour.
- Spices : Cinnamon,cloves, ginger and cardamom are added here.
- Sweetner : If you like your tea without sugar you can skip it. If adding you can either add white sugar or brown sugar as per your choice.
More tea recipes
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Masala Chai | Masala Tea
Ingredients
- 3/4 cup water
- 1 cup milk
- 1.5 tsp tea powder
- 2 tsp sugar
- 1/4 inch ginger
- 1/2 inch cinnamon
- 2 nos cardamom
- 1 no clove
Instructions
- To a hand mortar and pestle add ginger crush it roughly transfer to a plate and then add cardamom crush it roughly set aside.
- To a sauce pan add water – add cinnamon, crushed ginger and cardamom.
- Add clove, tea powder and let it boil in low flame.
- Boil until it reduces to almost half. Now add milk to it.
- Add sugar and let it come to a rolling boil.
- Mix well simmer for 2 mins. Then strain, froth well and serve hot masala chai!
Video
Notes
- Let the decotion be thick to get thick masala chai.
- If you want your tea to be a little thin then reduce milk to 1/2 cup.
- Use freshly crushed ginger, cardamom for more flavour.
- Add milk only after the tea decotion is boiled well.
- Usually I use cane sugar / brown sugar for tea , coffee but you can use replace it with regular white sugar too.
- Serve masala chai piping hot to enjoy the full flavours.
How to make Masala Chai
Preparing Spices
- To a hand mortar and pestle add a small ginger piece(deskinned and rinsed).
2.Crush it well.
3.Transfer crushed ginger to a small bowl.
4.Add cardamom pods.
5.Crush it roughly.
6.Transfer it to the same bowl and set aside. If you prefer you can add ginger, cardamom, cloves and cinnamon to the mortar and pestle and crush it roughly together.
Boiling spices
7.Add water to a sauce pan.
8.Add crushed ginger and cardamom to it.
9.Add cinnamon.
10.Add a clove to it.
Make tea decoction
11.Add tea powder to it.
12.Give a quick mix.
13.Let it boil, simemr until it reduces to almost half. Boiling well is the key to get a perfect tasting masala chai so let it simmer until its almost half.
Adding milk and sugar
14.Add milk to it.
15.Add sugar. You can add white sugar or brown sugaror cane sugar as per your preference.
16.Give a quick mix.
Boiling
17.Simmer until it comes to a rolling boil.
18.Give a quick mix.
19.Simmer for 2 mins.
20. Switch off.
Straining
21.Strain using a metal strainer.
22.Discard the remains.
Masala Chai ready for serving
23.Masala Chai ready!
Frothing and Serving
24.Froth by pouring to another cup and serve hot!
Serve hot masala chai with biscuits!
Expert Tips
- Let the decotion be thick to get thick masala chai.
- If you want your tea to be a little thin then reduce milk to 1/2 cup.
- Use freshly crushed ginger, cardamom for more flavour.
- Add milk only after the tea decotion is boiled well.
- Usually I use cane sugar / brown sugar for tea , coffee but you can use replace it with regular white sugar too.
- Serve masala chai piping hot to enjoy the full flavours.
Variations
- For vegan option skip milk and replace it with almond milk or soya milk or cashew milk.
- Furthermore add more spices like fennel seeds, black pepper, nutmeg, star anise etc.
- For winter season in addition you can even add tulsi leaves to this tea. It gives a soothing feel also prevents from catching cold often.
- The tea powder brand too makes a difference. Use assam tea powder for best results.
Serving & Storing Suggestion
- Serve masala chai with any snack especially any deep fried crispy snack such as pakoda, vada would be apt with ginger tea.
- Plain marie biscuits with tea is a match made in heaven.
- I wouldn’t recommend storing tea and serving so always make it fresh and serve. If you want to take it for travel, you can make maslaa chai pour in in a flaska nd it keeps well for abour 5-6 hours.
FAQs
1.What is Masala Chai?
Masala means spices and Chai in Hindi translates to tea. So Masala Chai is basically a spiced tea.
2.What is Masala Chai made of? How is it made?
Masala Chai is made by simmering water along with ginger, cardamom, cinnamon and cloves. First a thick decoction is made by simmering all of this then milk is added and let to boil. Once a rolling boil comes give a quick mix, simmer for 2 mins then strain. Hot Masala Chai is ready to be served!
3.How does Masala Chai taste?
Masala Chai tastes more like regular tea with a aromatic flavour from ginger, cardamom, cinnamon and cloves. Masala Chai is perfect for winters as its soo comforting.
4.Can I make Masala Chai without milk?
Masala Chai is usually had with milk but if you prefer you can make it without milk too. You cna check here for no milk version.
5.Can I crush all the spices together?
Yes you can add ginger, cardamom, cinnamon, cloves all together to a mortar and pestle crush it roughly and use it.
6.When can I have Masala Chai?
You can have it in the morning after breakfast or in the evening. I love it in the evenings after my small nap.
Eva
Thank You for the instructions, looks very delish, must try!
Priya
Tried today came out awesome. Thanks Sharmee. Your recipe has to come to my aid for so.. many years.