Indian Masala Chai Tea
Masala chai spice mix is a mixture of aromatic Indian spices used to prepare authentic Indian tea, known as Masala Chai. This is a special and traditional tea from India containing different aromatic spices blend into a powder, combined with milk and black tea. There is no fixed recipe to make masala chai. Almost every household in India will have their own way to make it and here I am sharing my version which I have learned from from my mother.Each spice brings a unique flavour to the chai, making it one of the most popular beverages worldwide. The spices used in the aromatic chai masala are also known for their health benefits. Home made spices are always best as they impart a fresh aroma to the chai, so it's always better than using a store-bought chai mix. It is so easy to make the chai spice mix yourself; you'll probably have most of the spices in your cupboard already. Grind the whole spices in a coffee blender or small blender (like these) and store them in a sterilised air-tight jar. You can make your masala chai any time in a jiffy with this spice blend.
Servings 7 cups
Ingredients
For the Masala Chai spice mix
- 1 tbsp black peppercorns
- 1 inch dry ginger
- 2 tbsp green cardamoms
- 2 inch cassia bark/cinnamon
- 1 tsp cloves
For Masala Chai Tea
- 1 cup water
- 1/3 cup milk
- sugar to taste
Instructions
- Crush the ingredients for the masala chai spice blend with a pestle and mortar, mix evenly and transfer to a sterilised air-tight container.
- Bring the water to the boil over a medium-high heat and add the masala chai spice mix. Reduce the heat and boil on medium-low heat for 10 minutes.
- Add the tea bag, sugar (optional), milk and let it brew for a couple of minutes, or longer if you prefer strong chai.
- Strain the liquid into cups and enjoy a hot and mildly spiced cup of traditional indian masala chai tea.
Notes
- Masala chai spice mix can be stored for nearly five months in an air-tight container at room temperature.
- Be careful while brewing as the milk can easily rise and spill over.
- Add or reduce masala chai spice mix as per your preferred spice levels.
- You can swap dried ginger with ginger powder if you can't find it in the shops, or add fresh ginger while brewing the chai.