Masala Chai Recipe (Indian Spiced Tea)
Warm, spiced, and comforting, Masala Chai is more than just a tea. Learn how to make authentic Masala Chai at home with this easy step-by-step guide, perfect for a flavorful and comforting cup every time.
Masala Chai (also known as Indian spiced tea) is a famous Indian tea that is popular for its strong flavor and warm spices. It is made by boiling black tea leaves with milk, water, sugar, and different whole spices like ginger, green cardamom pods, and cinnamon. Chai is not just a drink, it’s an emotion for many Indian people. Whether it’s a rainy day, a morning wake-up drink, or a way to relax in the evening, a cup of homemade masala chai brings comfort and joy. With this detailed recipe, you can now make tea easily at home and enjoy the rich flavors of Indian spices. Masala tea is often served as a comforting drink with an Indian breakfast, enjoyed with a traditional Indian dish, or sipped as a relaxing evening beverage. The result is a sweet, creamy, and spicy Indian drink that gives comfort and energy.
Ingredients and Substitues
You will need the following ingredients to make Indian Masala Tea:
- Water: Use plain water, or for a richer taste, replace part of it with brewed herbal tea.
- Milk: Full cream milk gives the best taste, but you can use low-fat or plant-based options like almond, oat, or soy milk.
- Black tea leaves: Assam or Darjeeling tea works well, or you can use Ceylon tea for a lighter flavor.
- Sugar: Adjust sweetness to your taste, or replace with jaggery, honey, or maple syrup.
- Spices: Masala Chai gets its signature aroma and warmth from a blend of spices including crushed green cardamom pods, a cinnamon stick, whole cloves, and black peppercorns. You can adjust the intensity of each spice to your taste or use powdered alternatives if whole spices aren’t available.
- Fresh ginger: Crushed or grated; ginger powder can be used as a substitute. You can also add a small pinch of fennel seeds or a tiny bit of nutmeg if you like more flavor.
How to Make Masala Chai
- Prepare Chai Spices: Lightly crush ginger, cardamom, cinnamon, cloves, and black pepper to release their natural fragrance.
- Infuse Flavors in Water: Boil water with the crushed spices make a flavorful Indian tea infusion.
- Add Tea and Milk: Now, stir in black tea leaves and simmer with milk for a smooth, flavorful beverage.
- Sweeten Your Chai: Mix in sugar, jaggery, or honey, strain, and serve hot for a comforting cup of Indian spiced tea.
How to Brew Real Indian Masala Tea
- Always use fresh spices for the best flavored tea. Use Assam tea (Chai Patti) for strong and bold taste, or Darjeeling tea for a lighter flavor.
- Boil water with the spices first to extract maximum flavor before adding tea leaves and milk. Tea leaves get time to release all their goodness. I recommend straining the chai before serving to enjoy a smooth, aromatic cup.
- You can adjust the amount of each spice as per your liking. For example, more ginger for a strong taste, more cardamom for sweetness.
- Try not to reheat chai again and again. It tastes best when served hot and fresh.
Serving Suggestions
Masala Chai tastes even better when paired with some delicious snacks. Enjoy it with classic biscuits like Parle-G, Aloo Tikki, crispy Bread Pakora made from fried vegetables, savory Samosas, or simply buttered toast for a comforting tea-time experience. If you want to make it as iced Masala Chai, just brew the chai as usual, let it cool, and then serve over ice for a refreshing spiced tea.
Frequently asked questions
Yes, when consumed in moderation, Masala Chai can aid digestion and boost immunity due to its natural spices like ginger, cardamom, and black pepper.
Yes, you can make a dairy-free version of masala tea by using plant-based milk or just water for a lighter tea.
Masala chai tastes best when served immediately. You can store any leftover chai in the refrigerator for up to a day. Reheat gently on the stove or in a microwave before serving but reheating may slightly alter the flavor.
Yes, strong black tea bags can be used. Just simmer slightly longer with the spices to get the full flavor.
Recipe Card
Masala Chai (Indian Spiced Tea)
Equipment
- 1 Saucepan
- 1 Mortar and pestle or rolling pin (for crushing spices)
- 1 Strainer
- 2 Cups or mugs
- 2 Spoon for stirring
Ingredients
- 1 cup water
- 1 cup milk full cream preferred for richness
- 2 tsp black tea leaves Assam or Darjeeling
- 2 tsp sugar adjust to taste
- 1 inch piece fresh ginger crushed or grated
- 3 green cardamom pods slightly crushed
- 1 small cinnamon stick
- 2 cloves
- 3 black peppercorns optional, for a stronger chai
- Optional A pinch of fennel seeds or a tiny bit of nutmeg
Instructions
- Take fresh ginger, cardamom pods, a cinnamon stick, cloves, and black peppercorns. Lightly crush them using a mortar and pestle or rolling pin to release their natural aroma and essential oils. These chai spices form the base of authentic Indian masala chai.
- In a saucepan, pour water and add the crushed spices. Bring it to a boil over medium heat, then simmer to create a flavorful spiced tea infusion.
- Next, add black tea leaves, such as Assam for a stronger flavor, and boil briefly.
- Now, pour in milk and simmer until creamy, creating a rich homemade chai with a perfect balance of spice and milk.
- Sweeten with sugar, jaggery, or honey to taste, stirring until fully dissolved.
- Turn off the heat, strain the tea into cups, and serve hot for a comforting and authentic Indian spiced tea experience.
Notes
- Use fresh, whole Indian spices for the most authentic taste.
- Assam tea gives a stronger flavor, while Darjeeling tea makes a milder tea.
- Adjust spice quantities to your preference, you can add more ginger for spiciness, more cardamom for sweetness.
- Avoid reheating chai multiple times, it tastes best fresh and hot.
