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masala chai.
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5 from 149 votes

Masala Chai (Authentic Indian Spiced Tea)

Indian chai is a delightful beverage that can invigorate your mind and soothe your senses with its robust, sweet, and mildly spiced flavor. This popular drink is a staple in India. Whether it's summer or winter, tea drinking is a daily ritual in the country, offering a refreshing and calming experience simultaneously.
Prep Time5 minutes
Cook Time10 minutes
Total Time15 minutes
Course: Drinks
Cuisine: Indian
Diet: Gluten Free, Hindu, Vegetarian
Servings: 2 cups
Calories: 99kcal
Author: Shilpa Kerur

Ingredients

  • 2 cups water
  • 1 cup milk
  • 2 teaspoon sugar or as per taste
  • 3 teaspoon black tea (I use Assam tea)
  • 1 inch ginger

Spices:

Instructions

  • In a mortar pestle, add ginger and spices (cinnamon, cardamom, clove, fennel seeds, and black pepper). Crush them lightly and set them aside.
  • Boil water in a saucepan. Add the crushed spice mix. Let it simmer for 5 minutes.
  • Add sugar and tea powder. Let the tea steep for 4-5 minutes. Do not simmer for a long time as this could make the tea bitter.
  • Add milk and bring to boil. Simmer for 4-5 minutes, or until it reaches the desired color.
  • Strain the tea by passing it through a sieve.
  • Pull the tea by pouring it back and forth in a slow stream (see the tips section above).
  • Serve hot.

Video

Notes

Use whole spices that are crushed lightly for best results. The ground spices will not strain fully. Whole spice blend can be strained easily, and they also give a perfectly balanced flavor to the tea.
Use whole milk to make milk tea as the fat in it gives richness to the tea.
Adjust the chai spices as per your liking. Similarly, adjust the water-to-milk ratio too. Some like to make their tea with a 1:1 ratio, and some even make it with just milk (without adding any water). My preferred ratio is 2:1 (2 cups of water for every cup of milk).

Nutrition

Calories: 99kcal | Carbohydrates: 12g | Protein: 4g | Fat: 4g | Saturated Fat: 2g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 0.2g | Monounsaturated Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 15mg | Sodium: 60mg | Potassium: 228mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 10g | Vitamin A: 201IU | Vitamin C: 1mg | Calcium: 174mg | Iron: 0.4mg