Masala Chai Recipe
Masala Chai (Indian Spiced Milk Tea) is a very popular Indian drink made using black tea leaves, milk, and aromatic spices. It comes together in under 10 minutes using 6 ingredients and one pot. Learn to make this authentic Indian beverage at home (vegetarian, gluten-free).
Here are some more chai recipes that you may like: Adrak Wali Chai, Kashmiri Kahwa Tea, Sulaimani Tea, and Pudina Chai.
About Masala Chai
Masala in Hindi means Spices, and the word Chai means Tea. Masala Chai is essentially tea infused with fragrant spices.
Masala Chai (Indian Spiced Milk Tea) is a popular Indian beverage made using tea leaves powder, milk, and spices. It’s now popular worldwide because of its amazing taste.
The day of most Indians starts with a cup of chai, and they just need an excuse to sip on this warm, earthy drink all through the day.
In the US, people commonly refer to it as Chai Tea, Chai Tea Latte, or Chai Latte. However, if you ask any Indian, Chai Tea literally means repeating the word twice (tea tea). There’s nothing like Chai Tea in India; it’s simply chai.
Chai is sold in every nook and corner of the country, and you will find people gathered around the chai shop all day long.
Every house has its own unique style of making this warming drink. Although it is made using the same six ingredients, the taste changes from home to home. I am very particular about the taste of my masala chai, and everyone who has tried it has fallen in love with it.
My recipe is extremely easy to make, just like any other masala chai tea recipe. However, it’s the specific proportions of ingredients, the taste of chai masala, the sequence in which the ingredients are added, and the cooking times that make all the difference.
This masala chai recipe is vegetarian and gluten-free. You can easily double or triple it as needed.
So, waste no time and make a perfect cup of Indian masala chai using my easy recipe!
Ingredients
Tea – Indians mostly use Assam Tea or Darjeeling Tea (Black Tea, Chai Patti) to make chai. There are many brands available, but my personal favorites are Tata Gold and Taj Mahal. You can source the tea either online or from any Indian grocery store.
Use loose tea or tea bags. In India, loose tea is typically used and purchased in bulk quantities to last the entire month.
Milk – Masala Tea tastes best when made with whole milk (full-fat milk). You can, however, use any milk of your choice. Almond milk, soy milk, oat milk, or coconut milk can also be used.
Sweetener – In India, regular granulated white sugar is used to sweeten the milky chai. Some people also add jaggery or brown sugar. You can use maple syrup or honey if you wish to. Sugar-free substitutes also work fine.
Chai Masala Powder – Freshly crushed warm spices lend this tea a unique flavor. Every household has its own unique combination and ratio of spices that it adds to its tea. The most commonly used spices are fresh ginger root and dried whole spices, such as green cardamom pods (hari elaichi), cloves (laung), and cinnamon (dalchini).
I make my own Chai Ka Masala, a blend of spices, and use it to make my masala chai recipe. You can make a batch of this tea masala spice blend for the entire week or month and use it to make chai.
How To Make Indian Masala Chai
Heat 2 cups of water in a pan over medium-high heat.
Once the water comes to a boil, add 1 teaspoon grated (or crushed) ginger and 1 teaspoon chai masala powder and boil for 2-3 minutes.
Add 2 teaspoon sugar and 2 teaspoon black tea leaves (or 2 tea bags) and boil for 1 minute. You can adjust the sugar according to your taste.
Now add ½ cup whole milk (full-fat milk) and cook for 2-3 minutes on medium heat. Keep stirring once in a while.
Strain the tea into 2 serving cups using a tea strainer and serve immediately.
Frequently Asked Questions
Chai is a traditional 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 unique taste.
Replace dairy milk with any plant-based milk, such as almond milk, cashew milk, or oat milk, to create a vegan version of Indian masala chai.
Yes, it can be made without milk. This version is commonly known as “black masala chai”. You can follow the same process of brewing tea leaves and adding spices, but omit the milk. The resulting beverage will have a stronger and spicier flavor.
Boil the ginger very well in water with the black tea leaves before adding milk. Ginger contains a proteolytic enzyme called zingibain. When ginger is added to masala chai, the zingibain enzyme may interact with the proteins in the milk, causing them to coagulate and form curds. Boiling the ginger in water until it reaches a boil will destroy this enzyme, and your tea will not curdle.
Pro Tips By Neha
Water Milk Ratio – You can adjust the quantity of milk while making masala tea. If you like your tea creamy, add more milk and less water.
You can also increase the quantity of chai masala if you prefer a stronger and spicier flavor.
You can add some fresh tulsi leaves to this spiced tea along with the chai masala.
To make it a little richer, you can add a few strands of saffron as well.
If you prefer your tea strong, boil it for a longer time or use more tea leaves. If you prefer a lighter brew, use fewer tea leaves and boil for a shorter time.
Serving Suggestions
Serve this tea immediately in teacups.
You also get a special glass called cutting glass that is very popular in India to serve this hot beverage. It is a small glass, perfect for serving a small quantity of tea. The tea served in this glass is called cutting chai. Instead of having one big cup of tea, many people prefer to drink multiple cups of cutting chai. Make sure to fill the glasses until ¾th full so that you can hold them from the top without burning your fingers.
Serve the Indian masala chai with cookies and a namkeen mixture.
You can also serve the chai with tea cakes, Roasted Makhana Namkeen, or Namak Pare.
I also enjoy having hot tea with stuffed parathas, such as aloo paratha, ajwain paratha, masala paratha, and even chole bhature.
Butter toast or bun tastes amazing with a cup of masala chai, do try it!
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Masala Chai Recipe
Ingredients
- 2 cups water
- 1 teaspoon grated ginger (or crushed ginger)
- 1 teaspoon chai masala powder
- 2 teaspoons granulated white sugar (adjust according to your taste)
- 2 teaspoons black tea leaves (chai patti) (or 2 tea bags)
- ½ cup whole milk (full-fat milk) (can use skim or plant-based too)
Instructions
- Heat water in a saucepan over medium-high heat.
- Once the water comes to a boil, add ginger and chai masala powder and boil for 2-3 minutes.
- Add sugar and black tea leaves and boil for 1 minute. You can adjust the sugar according to your taste.
- Now add milk and cook for 2-3 minutes on medium heat. Keep stirring once in a while.
- Strain the tea in 2 serving cups using a tea strainer and serve immediately.
Good information in very simple way!