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Masala Chai (Spiced Indian Tea) Recipe

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4.4 from 66 reviews

Masala Chai is a traditional Indian spiced tea made by simmering black tea with aromatic whole spices, fresh ginger, and milk. This comforting beverage is rich in flavors from cloves, cinnamon, cardamom, and peppercorns, perfectly balanced with creamy milk and a touch of sweetness. Served hot, it’s a delightful treat for any time of the day.

Ingredients

Liquids

  • 2¼ cups water (add less water for creamier chai)
  • ½ to ¾ cups milk (add more milk for creamier chai)

Tea

  • 2 teaspoons loose black tea

Spices

  • 3 cloves
  • 1 inch cinnamon stick
  • 4 green cardamoms
  • 6 black peppercorns
  • ½ teaspoon fennel seeds
  • 1 inch fresh ginger (or ½ teaspoon ground ginger powder)

Optional Aromatics

  • Lemongrass (to taste)
  • Mint leaves (to taste)
  • Rose petals (dried, to taste)
  • Sugar (to taste)

Instructions

  1. Heat Water: Add 2¼ cups of water to a saucepan and place on medium-high heat to warm the water for your chai.
  2. Grind Spices: Coarsely grind the cloves, cinnamon stick, cardamoms, black peppercorns, and fennel seeds using a mortar and pestle. Add the ground spice mix to the hot water. (Alternatively, you can use ½ teaspoon of chai masala instead of individual spices.)
  3. Prepare Ginger: Coarsely grind fresh ginger in the mortar and pestle and add it to the saucepan with the spices and water.
  4. Boil Tea and Aromatics: Bring the water with spices and ginger to a gentle boil, then add the loose black tea leaves. At this stage, add optional fresh mint leaves, lemongrass, or dried rose petals if you prefer.
  5. Simmer Tea: Bring the mixture to a full boil over medium-high heat, then reduce the heat and let the tea simmer gently for 1 to 2 minutes to infuse all the flavors.
  6. Add Milk and Sweetener: Pour in the milk and add sugar according to your taste. Bring the chai back to a full boil, then simmer for an additional 1 to 2 minutes to meld the milk with the spices and tea.
  7. Strain and Serve: Turn off the heat and strain the chai through a fine sieve into cups. Serve hot and enjoy the rich, spiced flavors.

Notes

  • Adjust the amount of milk and water to make your chai creamier or lighter according to preference.
  • You can substitute the fresh ginger with ground ginger powder if fresh ginger is unavailable.
  • Optional aromatics like lemongrass, mint, and rose petals add unique floral and herbal notes but can be omitted if not on hand.
  • Sugar amount can be varied or replaced with sweeteners of choice.
  • Using chai masala powder can simplify spice preparation.

Find it online: https://justsosavory.com/masala-chai-spiced-indian-tea-recipe/