Easy and Authentic Masala Chai (Indian Spicy Chai/Tea)
This easy and authentic masala chai is the perfect drink to warm up your insides and awaken your senses! Each cup of Indian spicy chai (tea) has a beautiful blend of spices and flavours. Plus this recipe can also be made as decaf masala chai or with caffeine depending on your preference.
Servings: 3 cups
Calories: 47kcal
Ingredients
- 2 tablespoon Fennel seeds
- ¼ teaspoon Carom seeds ajwain
- 6-7 Green cardamom pods
- 1-2 Black cardamom pods
- ¼ teaspoon Fresh ginger finely grated
- 8 Black peppercorns
- 5 Cloves
- 1-2 Cinnamon sticks either ceylon or cassia
- 4 cups Water warm
- 3 Black tea bags decaf or caffeinated
- 4 tablespoon Milk
- Optional - Pinch Cumin seeds (for extra heat/spice)
Instructions
- In a medium saucepan, add the fennel seeds, carom seeds (ajwain), green and black cardamom, ginger, black pepper, cloves and cinnamon sticks. Using a pestle, gently crush the ingredients for 20-30 seconds, or until slightly crushed into small pieces.
- Add water in the pan and heat on medium/high heat for 30 minutes, allowing the tea to gently come to boil.
- You will notice the water will be reduced (by approximately a third) as it boils. Switch to high heat and after a 1-2 minutes add the tea bags and allow the tea to boil and brew for another 3-4 minutes.
- Add milk and allow the tea to continue to boil on high heat for another 4-5 minutes. As the milk comes to boil, you will notice it bubbles and becomes slightly frothy. Switch off the heat. Serve by pouring the tea into cups through a strainer and enjoy!
Notes
- Serving the tea later: If you wish to serve the tea later keep the pan covered with a lid, when you are ready to serve the tea heat the pan on high heat for 2-3 minutes and allow it to gently come to boil. Then pour through a strainer into cups as desired.
- Sweetener: This recipe does not contain sweetener but if you prefer sweet tea you can add any sweetener of choice to taste (including honey or maple syrup). I would recommend adding sweetener to your cup (rather than the pan), as individual preferences for sweetness may vary.
- Boiling the tea: when boiling the tea, you may notice the water splattering slightly, if this is the case, take the pan off the high heat (or lower the heat) for a minute or so and then resume back to high heat.
Nutrition
Calories: 47kcal | Carbohydrates: 8g | Protein: 2g | Fat: 2g | Saturated Fat: 0.4g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 0.1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 2mg | Sodium: 29mg | Potassium: 163mg | Fiber: 4g | Sugar: 1g | Vitamin A: 43IU | Vitamin C: 2mg | Calcium: 115mg | Folate: 0.2µg | Iron: 2mg | Zinc: 1mg