Masala Chai or Masala Tea is a very popular Indian drink made using tea leaves, milk, and spices. It comes together in under 10 minutes using 4 ingredients and one pot. Learn to make this authentic Indian beverage at home.
Like Tea? Then do give these Chai recipes a try too – Turmeric Ginger Tea, Hibiscus Tea, Strawberry Tea, Adrak Wali Chai, and Kashmiri Kahwa Tea.
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About This Recipe
Masala in Hindi means Spices and Chai means Tea. Masala Chai is basically tea made with spices.
Chai is not a drink but a religion in India. The day of most Indians starts with a cup of chai and they just need an excuse to sip on this warm earthy drink.
Chai is sold in every nook and corner of the country. If you have guests at home, you serve them tea without even asking if they want it or not because the answer is almost always a yes.
Masala Tea is extremely popular, not just in India but the world over. Don’t you agree? You’ll be greeted by tea shops and cafes dishing out expensive cups of this humble chai.
What most people don’t realize is that masala chai is extremely easy to make at home. You just need a few sets of everyday ingredients and a cup of flavourful Chai can be served on the table in minutes.
In the US people call it Chai Tea or Chai Tea Latte. But if you ask any Indian, Chai Tea literally means repeating the word two times. There nothing like Chai Tea in India, it’s just Chai.
Masala Chai is one of the most famous hot beverage which can be made with just 4 ingredients within 10 minutes. Its a mood lifter and can be served in any weather
It is made using just 4 ingredients – Black Tea, Milk, Spices, and Sweetener. The spices can be ground fresh for a fabulous taste or you can make a delicious Chai Masala and store it for use throughout the week.
If you plan on making the masala at home, here’s a recipe you could try: Chai Masala Recipe.
During the winter season, it is a brilliant drink as it keeps the body warm and it’s one of the preferred choices to fight the harsh winters.
This Masala Tea is,
- Refreshing
- Easy + Quick
- Spicy & Warm
- Comforting
- Gluten-Free
- Can be made vegan
- Better than the tea shops
- Perfect to serve to your guests
Ingredients
Tea – Use strong black tea to make masala chai. You need a dark robust tea which goes great with spices. Indians mostly use Assam or Darjeeling Tea to make the chai. There are many brands available but my personal favorites are Tata Gold or Tajmahal. You can source the tea either online or from any Indian grocery store.
Milk – Masala Tea tastes best using full-fat milk. You can however use any milk of your choice. Almond, Soy, Coconut milk, all can be used to make it.
Sweetener – In India, regular granulated sugar is used to sweeten the tea. Some people also add jaggery. You can use maple syrup or honey if you wish to. Sugar-Free substitutes can also be used.
Spices – Each and every household have their own unique combination and ratio of spices that they add in their tea. Freshly crushed warm spices give this tea a very unique flavor. The spices most commonly used are ginger, green cardamom, cloves, and cinnamon. I like to make my own blend of spices called Chai Masala. You can make a batch of this masala for the entire week or month and keep using it for making the chai. I have mentioned the recipe below.
How to make Masala Chai?
Heat water in a pan.
Add grated ginger and chai masala powder and boil for 2-3 minutes.
Add sugar and tea leaves and boil for a minute.
Now add milk and boil for 2-3 minutes on medium heat.
Strain and serve immediately.
Serve hot in your favorite tea cup
Frequently Asked Questions
Chai is plain Indian milk tea. It is made using water, milk, tea leaves and sugar.
However, Masala Chai has a special spice mix added to it which gives it a very unique taste.
If you’re looking for a vegan chai option, you can also substitute milk with your favorite nut milk like almond milk, cashew milk, or even oats milk and enjoy.
Homemade Chai Masala gives this drink a very delicious taste.
It is very economical to make at home and the result is much better than the store-bought ones.
I have a detailed recipe to make Homemade Chai Masala here but if you need a quick recipe, here it is.
You can skip or add any other spice of your choice.
The below-mentioned ratio of spices works for me best but they are definitely customizable.
Ingredients:
¼ cup Cloves
¼ cup Green Cardamom
¼ cup Cinnamon Stick
¼ cup Black Peppercorns
2 tbsp Rose Petals Dried
2 tbsp Fennel Seeds / Saunf
2 tbsp Dry Ginger Powder
1 Nutmeg Crushed
Instructions:
Mix all the ingredients in a blender and blend to make a coarse powder.
Store in an airtight container for up to 2 months.
Use ½ tsp of this powder for 2 cups of tea.
Benefits
- Prevents Cold
- Anti Inflammatory
- Relieves PMS
- Improves Digestion
- Regulate Diabetes
- Boost metabolism
Side Effects
If you take Masala Tea in excess, it might have following side effects
- Anxiety and Restlessness
- You can get addicted
- Sleep Deprivation
- Dehydration
Serving Suggestions
Serve Masala Tea in teacups or small glasses that come especially to serve tea. They are called cutting glasses. Fill the glasses until ¾ th full so that you can hold them from the top without burning your fingers.
You can serve it as is or with cookies and namkeen mixture.
You can also serve tea cakes, Murukku, Makhana Namkeen, Cornflakes Chivda, or Namak Pare along with it.
I also like to have tea with stuffed paratha like aloo paratha, ajwain paratha, masala paratha, and even chole bhature 🙂
Butter toast or bun tastes amazing with a cup of masala chai, do try 🙂
Pro Tips By Neha
Water Milk Ratio – You can adjust the quantity of milk while making masala tea. If you like your tea to be creamy, add more milk and less water.
You can also increase the quantity of chai masala, if you like it to be strong and spicy.
To make it a little rich, you can add in a few strand of saffron too.
If you like your tea strong, then boil it for longer or use more tea leaves. If you like it light, use fewer tea leaves and even boil it less.
This recipe can easily be doubled or tripled, if you are making it for a bigger crowd.
If you like your tea frothy, you can use a milk frother to add extra froth in the tea.
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Recipe Card
Masala Chai Recipe
Ingredients
- 2 cups Water
- 1 tsp Chai Masala Powder
- 2 tsp Black Tea Leaves
- ½ cup Milk
- 2 tsp Sugar (adjust according to your taste)
- 1 tsp Ginger Grated
Instructions
- Heat water in a pan.
- Add ginger and chai masala Powder and boil for 2-3 minutes.
- Add sugar and tea leaves and boil for a minute.
- Now add milk and boil for 2-3 minutes on medium heat.
- Strain and serve immediately.
Notes
¼ cup Cloves
¼ cup Green Cardamom
¼ cup Cinnamon Stick
¼ cup Black Peppercorns
2 tbsp Rose Petals Dried
2 tbsp Fennel Seeds / Saunf
2 tbsp Dry Ginger Powder
1 Nutmeg Crushed
Instructions:
Mix all the ingredients in a blender and blend to make a coarse powder.
Store in an airtight container for up to 2 months.
Use ½ tsp of this powder for 2 cups of Indian masala chai.
Did you make this recipe? Let me know!