Ginger Chai (Adrak wali Chai)
on Mar 04, 2025, Updated Apr 16, 2025
Ginger Chai (Adrak Wali Chai) is an Indian beverage that is sweet, milky, and spicy. It is a great remedy for cold and flu. Learn how to make it.
Here are some more Indian drinks that you might like – Kahwa, Masala Chai, Turmeric Ginger Tea, and Saffron Tea.
I started drinking chai very late in life. Even now, I do not crave it as soon as I get up in the morning like most Indians do. My parents need a cup of kadak tea to start functioning, and so do many other Indians.
But sometimes, when I make hot Indian breakfasts like Poha, Upma, etc., I love to have them with Ginger Chai. I am particular about the taste of my tea, and over the years, I have perfected it. Now, whoever comes to my home demands adrak wali chai, and hardly anyone leaves without having at least two servings.
I am sharing my recipe for making this chai with ginger. Do try it!
About Ginger Chai
Ginger Chai is an Indian-style milk tea spiced with fresh ginger.
Millions of Indians are used to starting their day with a cup of hot milky tea, and every person has their own way of making it. Some make it plain, and some with the addition of spices or other ingredients.
This milk tea with ginger (ginger chai) is a popular version made by adding fresh ginger roots while cooking the tea.
You will find many roadside stalls, restaurants, and canteens selling ginger milk tea and snacks to munch on. This tea is also a great beverage to sip on when you are down with a cold, flu, or cough. It also gives relief to sore throats. It provides warmth to the body and helps combat the illness.
Ingredients
This Indian ginger and milk tea is made using 5 simple ingredients. You will need water, fresh ginger roots, black tea leaves, sugar, and milk.
Do not use dry ginger powder to make this recipe, as the taste of fresh ginger root and dried ginger powder is very different. Try to buy organic ginger from an Indian grocery store as the taste of Indian ginger is much potent than the American variety.
Use the best quality tea leaves to make ginger milk tea. I use Tata Tea Gold brand of tea. It is available in most Indian grocery stores.
I use whole milk (full-fat milk) to make ginger chai. To make the tea vegan, use any plant-based milk like soy milk, almond milk, or cashew milk.
You can adjust the sugar as per your taste.
To make ginger masala tea, add ½ teaspoon of my chai masala powder to this recipe. If chai masala is unavailable, then crush some cinnamon sticks, whole cloves, star anise, green cardamom pods, and fennel seeds and add these aromatic spices along with spicy ginger.
How To Make Adrak Wali Chai
Heat 2 cups of water in a pan over medium-high heat.
Once the water comes to a rolling boil, add 4 teaspoon of peeled and grated ginger to the pan.
Reduce the heat to low and let the water simmer for 2 minutes.
Add 2 teaspoon of black tea leaves and 2 teaspoon sugar and simmer for a minute.
Now add 4 tablespoon of whole milk and mix well.
Increase the heat to medium-high and let the tea boil for another 2 minutes.
Strain in 2 tea cups using a tea strainer (fine-mesh strainer) and serve immediately.
Pro Tips By Neha
You can increase the quantity of ginger if you like an even stronger flavor.
Add the milk only once the water and ginger have nicely boiled. If you add it before, the milk might curdle.
You can add more milk to the ginger milk tea recipe if you want. I like my tea very strong and less milky; hence, I always use less milk in my recipe.
You can also add a pod of crushed cardamom, cloves, and nutmeg powder to your adrak chai recipe to elevate the taste. Adding these spices are also great when you have a cold. You can also add a little tulsi and turmeric powder if making this tea when you have a cold.
Use a fine-mesh strainer to strain the ginger chai; otherwise, the powder from the tea will come into your cup, which is not a good idea.
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, you can. For every 1 teaspoon of black tea powder, use 1 tea bag.
Yes, you can. Use 1 teaspoon of milk powder for every 2 tablespoon of whole milk. You can increase this amount if you like your tea milky.
Serving Suggestions
You can serve piping hot cup of this ginger milk tea on its own or serve it along with snacks such as Bread Pakoda, Palak Pakoda, Samosa, etc.
You can serve it with biscuits, mathri, toast, khari, or other such munchies.
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Ginger Chai Recipe (Adrak Wali Chai)
Ingredients
- 2 cups water
- 4 teaspoons peeled and grated ginger
- 2 teaspoons black tea leaves
- 2 teaspoons sugar
- 4 tablespoons whole milk (full-fat milk)
Instructions
- Heat water in a pan over medium-high heat.
- Once the water comes to a boil, add ginger to the pan.
- Reduce the heat to low and let the water simmer for 2 minutes.
- Add tea leaves and sugar and simmer for a minute.
- Now add milk and mix well.
- Increase the heat to medium-high and let the tea boil for another 2 minutes.
- Strain in tea cups using a tea strainer and serve immediately.
This is so yum!! Just made it on a cold winter day for my mum and myself. It’s really convenient and inventive, I can add different spices and milk with it or change the amount of ginger depending on the flavour or spice I am after. Thank you!
Hi is there specific ginger that’s good for bowel movement.i have tried mango ginger root and it doesn’t work , the leaner ones work fantastically.
The regular Indian ginger is what I use and it suit me perfectly. You will have to give it a try to know if it suits your body too.
Ginger Tea is literally bae 😀 .. Be it a harsh summer or a winter a cup or more of ginger tea is a must. Try putting few mint leaves when you boil the water. It tastes just brilliant 🙂
That’s a nice idea. Will try it 🙂
Just had my cuppa.. Like it really spicy so a lot more ginger goes in. I also have a spice mix of Nutmeg, mace, cardamom which just a pinch addded to boiling water wt ginger gives some beautiful flavors n smell.
Awesome 🙂
I like adrak chai so much that I can have it anytime. even if its summer time and someone offer me adrak chai I am ready to go for it.