Authentic Masala Chai Recipe
This Authentic Masala Chai recipe is a fragrant and warming Indian spiced tea made with a carefully crafted blend of whole spices, black tea, and milk. The rich spice mix, including cardamom, cinnamon, cloves, peppercorns, fennel, nutmeg, and ginger, is toasted and freshly ground to provide a bold, aromatic flavor profile. Perfect for a comforting daily ritual or to impress guests with a genuinely traditional chai experience.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Total Time: 25 minutes
- Yield: 2 servings
- Category: Beverage
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: Indian
- Diet: Vegetarian
Ingredients
Spice Mix (Makes about 1 ¼ cups)
- 40 g green cardamom pods (¼ + ⅛ cup)
- 20 g cinnamon quills (about 3 quills)
- 20 g whole black peppercorns (2 tbsp)
- 20 g whole cloves (6 – 8 tsp)
- 10 g whole fennel seeds (4 tsp)
- ½ nutmeg
- 20 g ground ginger (2 tbsp)
Masala Chai (For 2 people)
- 480 mL water (2 cups)
- 15 g good quality loose leaf black tea (Assam or other black tea)
- 2 tsp prepared spice mix
- 240 mL whole milk (1 cup; 2% milk also acceptable)
- Honey or sugar to sweeten, to taste
Instructions
- Prepare the Spice Mix: Place all whole spices except ground ginger (cardamom pods, cinnamon quills, black peppercorns, cloves, fennel seeds, nutmeg) in a dry non-stick pan over medium heat. Continuously move the spices around the pan until they become fragrant, which indicates they are toasted. This usually takes a few minutes depending on your stove’s heat.
- Grind the Spices: Remove the toasted spices from the pan and spread them on a plate. In batches, grind the spices completely using a spice blender. Transfer the ground spices to a large jar or bowl and whisk in the ground ginger until fully combined. Store the spice mix in an airtight glass container for future use.
- Make the Masala Chai: In a saucepan, combine water, loose leaf black tea, and 2 teaspoons of the prepared spice mix. Cover the pan with a lid and bring to a boil. Once boiling, remove the lid and reduce the heat to allow the tea to simmer gently for about 4 to 5 minutes to extract flavors.
- Add Milk and Simmer: Stir in the milk and increase the heat just enough to bring the chai back to a simmer. Let it simmer for an additional minute to meld the flavors together.
- Strain and Sweeten: Remove from heat and strain the chai into cups to remove tea leaves and spice residues. Sweeten with honey or sugar to taste, stirring well.
- Optional Frothing: For a frothy finish, use a frothing wand to froth the chai before serving, especially if using barista-quality plant-based milk for a vegan option.
- Serve: Serve the masala chai immediately while hot, enjoying the rich layers of spice and creaminess.
Notes
- To make this recipe vegan, substitute whole milk with a plant-based milk such as oat or almond milk; use a barista-quality version if you want to froth the chai.
- The spice mix can be prepared in advance and stored in an airtight container for several weeks for convenience.
- Adjust the amount of sweetener to your personal preference; honey adds a floral sweetness while sugar provides a more neutral sweet taste.
- For stronger chai, increase the steeping time by 1-2 minutes or add an extra teaspoon of spice mix.
Find it online: https://marthatasty.com/authentic-masala-chai-recipe/
