Authentic Masala Chai Recipe
Authentic Masala Chai is a traditional Indian spiced tea made by simmering black tea leaves with a blend of aromatic spices, water, and milk. This comforting beverage combines the warming flavors of ginger, cardamom, cinnamon, cloves, and optional spices like black peppercorns and star anise, sweetened to taste with brown sugar. Perfect for cozy mornings or relaxing afternoons, masala chai is both flavorful and infused with health benefits from its natural ingredients.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Total Time: 30 minutes
- Yield: 6 servings 1x
- Category: Drinks
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: Indian
Ingredients
Scale
Main Ingredients
- 3 cups water
- 3 cups whole milk (or almond, cashew, soy, oat, or another plant-based milk)
- 5 tbsp loose leaf black tea (Assam)
- 1 inch piece ginger, sliced
- 10 cloves whole
- 15 green cardamom pods
- 1 1/2 cinnamon sticks (about 2 inches)
- 5 – 10 tsp brown sugar (to taste)
Optional Spices
- 15 black peppercorns
- 5 star anises
- 1/2 tsp fennel seeds
Instructions
- Crack and combine spices: Crack open the cardamom pods, cloves, and black peppercorns (if using) to release their flavors. Place these along with sliced ginger, cinnamon sticks, and loose black tea leaves into a saucepan or teapot. Add optional star anise and fennel seeds if desired.
- Add water and simmer: Pour in 3 cups of water over the spice and tea mixture. Bring the mixture to a low boil, then cover and steep on low heat for at least 10 minutes to extract the flavors. For a stronger infusion, let it simmer gently for 1 to 2 hours on very low heat.
- Add milk and sweeten: Stir in 3 cups of milk and 5 to 10 teaspoons of brown sugar according to your taste. Heat the chai mixture, stirring continuously until it comes to a simmer again. Maintain simmering for a few minutes to allow the milk to fully absorb the essential oils and spices, enhancing the flavor complexity.
- Strain and serve: Pour the masala chai through a fine mesh strainer into mugs or glasses to remove the tea leaves and spices. Serve hot and enjoy this aromatic, soothing beverage.
Notes
- You can adjust the sweetness by adding more or less brown sugar according to preference.
- For a vegan version, substitute whole milk with plant-based milk such as almond, soy, or oat milk.
- Steeping the tea and spices for longer results in a richer, more intense flavor.
- Freshly cracked spices release more aroma and improve the taste of the chai.
- Adding optional spices like star anise and fennel seeds adds additional depth, but they can be omitted if unavailable.
- This recipe serves 6 cups; scale ingredients accordingly for larger or smaller batches.
Keywords: Masala chai, Indian tea, spiced tea, black tea recipe, traditional chai, homemade chai, spiced milk tea, chai with ginger, cardamom tea
Find it online: https://epicrecipebox.com/authentic-masala-chai-recipe/