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Easy Masala Chai (Spiced Tea) Recipe

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4.4 from 15 reviews

This Easy Masala Chai recipe offers a comforting and aromatic spiced tea blending black tea with warming spices like cinnamon, cardamom, cloves, and ginger. Perfect for a cozy tea break, this recipe balances rich, creamy milk with a hint of sweetness and bold spice notes. It’s simple to make on the stovetop and serves two, delivering the authentic flavors of traditional Indian chai.

  • Author: Chef
  • Prep Time: 5 minutes
  • Cook Time: 15 minutes
  • Total Time: 20 minutes
  • Yield: 2 servings
  • Category: Beverage
  • Method: Stovetop
  • Cuisine: Indian

Ingredients

Spices and Tea

  • 2 1/4 cups filtered water
  • 1 3-inch cinnamon stick (ceylon or cassia)
  • 3 whole cloves
  • 4 green cardamom pods (cracked open and deseeded)
  • 3 black peppercorns
  • 1/2 tsp fennel seeds (optional)
  • 1/2-inch fresh ginger (peeled and thinly sliced)
  • 3 black tea bags or 3 tsp loose leaf black tea

Dairy and Sweetener

  • 1 cup whole milk (or 2% reduced fat milk)
  • 4 tsp turbinado cane sugar (or raw cane sugar)

Instructions

  1. Boil Spices and Water: Heat a medium saucepan over high heat. Add the filtered water along with the cinnamon stick, cloves, cardamom pods, black peppercorns, fennel seeds (if using), and sliced ginger. Bring the mixture to a boil to release the flavors of the spices.
  2. Simmer Tea: Add the black tea bags or loose leaf black tea to the boiling spiced water. Reduce the heat to medium-low and simmer gently for 7-10 minutes until the tea is strong and the liquid turns a deep burgundy color and reduces slightly.
  3. Add Milk and Sugar: Stir in the milk and sugar. Increase the heat back to high or allow the mixture to naturally come to a boil. Then reduce the heat to medium and let it simmer for an additional 5 minutes to integrate the flavors.
  4. Boil and Aerate: Just before serving, raise the heat to high and let the chai come to a rolling boil for 1-2 minutes, depending on your preferred strength and cooked milk flavor. Using a ladle, aerate the chai by pouring it back into the pot a few times to deepen the flavor and create a creamy texture.
  5. Strain and Serve: Pour the chai through a strainer into cups to remove the spices and tea leaves. Add extra sweetener to taste if desired. Serve hot and enjoy the comforting warmth of traditional masala chai.

Notes

  • Note 1: The strength of tea bags or loose leaf tea varies by brand, so adjust quantity if you prefer a stronger or lighter brew.
  • Note 2: Removing cardamom seeds but keeping pods helps avoid bitterness while still imparting aroma.
  • Note 3: Boiling the milk intensifies the flavor, but skip or shorten this step if you want a milder, creamier chai.

Find it online: https://cheftinaskitchen.com/easy-masala-chai-spiced-tea-recipe/