Easy Masala Chai (Tea) Recipe – Spiced Chai
An authentic recipe for Masala Chai (tea) or Indian Spiced Chai. This easy recipe uses black tea bags (or leaves) and whole spices and takes less than 20 minutes to make!
Total: 20min
Yield: 2
Serving Size: 1 serving
Nutrition Facts: calories 115 kcal, Carbohydrate 17 g, Protein 4 g, Fat 4 g, Saturated Fat 2 g, Cholesterol 12 mg, Sodium 80 mg, Fiber 2 g, Sugar 13 g, unSaturated Fat 2 g, servingSize 1 serving
Ingredients:
- 2 1/4 cups filtered water
- 1 3-inch cinnamon stick (ceylon or cassia are both fine)
- 3 whole cloves
- 4 green cardamom pods (cracked open and deseeded (I throw seeds & pods in))
- 3 black peppercorns
- 1/2 tsp fennel seeds (optional)
- 1/2- inch fresh ginger (peeled and thinly sliced)
- 3 black tea bags or sub 3 tsp loose leaf black tea (depending on brand, tea bags/leaves vary in strength (See Note 1) )
- 1 cup whole milk (or 2% reduced fat milk)
- 4 tsp turbinado cane sugar (or raw cane sugar)
Instruction:
- Heat a medium saucepan over high heat. Add water, cinnamon stick, cloves, cardamom pods, black peppercorns, fennel seeds (if using), and ginger. (See Note 2) Bring to a boil and add the tea bags or leaves.
- Reduce the heat to medium-low and simmer gently for 7-10 minutes, depending on how strong you’d like the tea and spices. It will turn a deep burgundy color and reduce slightly.
- Add milk and sugar and stir. Raise the heat to high (or allow the milk to come to a boil on its own, as I do on any given day). Reduce the heat to medium and simmer for another 5 minutes.
- When ready to serve, raise the heat to high and allow it to come to a rolling boil for 1-2 minutes, depending on how ‘cooked’ you like the milk. (See Note 3) If you’d like, use a ladle to aerate the chai to deepen the flavor and make it creamier.
- Pour into cups through a strainer and add more sweetener, if desired.
Homemade Chai Tea Concentrate
Make homemade chai tea with this delicious and simple chai tea concentrate recipe.
Prep: 5min
Total: 25min
Yield: 0
Ingredients:
- 12 cardamom pods, gently crushed
- 8 whole black peppercorns
- 8 whole cloves
- 4-inch piece of fresh ginger, sliced
- 4 cups water
- 4 cinnamon sticks
- 3 whole allspice (optional)
- 2 Tbsp. brown sugar (more or less to taste)
- 2 star anise
- 1 vanilla bean, sliced down the middle
- 1/8 tsp. nutmeg
- 4 black tea bags
Instruction:
- Bring all ingredients except tea bags together to a boil in a saucepan over medium-high heat. Reduce heat to medium-low, cover, and simmer for 15 minutes. Add tea bags and let steep for 5 minutes. Pour mixture through a strainer and reserve the liquid for concentrate, and let cool to room temperature.
- Mix equal parts concentrate with water or milk to make chai tea. Or refrigerate in an airtight container for up to one week.
Authentic Homemade Indian Chai
An actually-authentic Indian Chai tea recipe, as made for me by my lovely Indian mother-in-law. Make perfect chai at home using this method.
Prep: 1min
Total: 6min
Ingredients:
- 8 oz water
- 4 oz whole milk
- granulated sugar (to taste (about 2 heaped teaspoons per serving, traditionally))
- 1 heaping tablespoon of black tea (empty out tea bags to make a tablespoon if you don’t buy loose leaves)
- 4 cardamom pods (smashed with side of a knife)
- small piece of cinnamon stick
- 1/4 ” coin of fresh ginger
- pinch of fennel seeds (about 10 seeds)
Instruction:
- Bring water and milk to a simmer with desired spices in a medium saucepan. Reduce heat to lowest setting and add tea. Steep until tea takes on a deep, pinky-tan colour, about 3 minutes, stirring occasionally. Strain into a cup and stir in sugar to taste.
MASTERCLASS IN CHAI | How to make the perfect masala chai | Indian style tea | Food with Chetna
FAQ
How to make chai tea at home?
Add ½ a mug of boiling WATER per person to a pot (approx. 140ml). Add 1 HEAPED tablespoon (15g) of FRESH CHAI per person to the pot. Low simmer for up to 5 MINS (warning: rapid boil kills the chai) remember to give it a bit of love with a few stirs.
What is chai tea made of?
Do you use water or milk for chai tea?
Can I drink chai tea everyday?