Authentic Masala Chai Recipe
Indian masala chai is a delicious and sweet beverage made with milk, black tea, and several spices. This tea is also healthy, which is a good reason to start sipping it frequently!
Equipment
- Sauce pan or tea pot
- Knife
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 teaspoons of brown sugar
Optional ingredients:
- 15 black peppercorns
- 5 star anises
- 1/2 tsp fennel seeds
Instructions
- Crack the cardamom pods, cloves, and peppercorns (if you are using them) and put them in a saucepan or teapot. Add thinly sliced ginger, cinnamon sticks, and black tea. Add star anise and fennel seeds if you want to use them. Add the water.
- Bring to a low boil and cover. Steep on low heat for at least 10 minutes. If you want a stronger infusion, keep the chai on very low heat for an hour or two.
- Add milk and sugar. Stir it while heating until it’s simmering hot again. Simmer for a few minutes to allow the milk to bring out the oil from the spices.
- Pour into mugs or glasses through a strainer and enjoy!