WARMING INDIAN MASALA CHAI – SPICED TEA TO WARM YOUR SOUL
Let’s enjoy this traditional Indian masala chai together — perfect for warming up on a chilly day.
“Masala” means spice blend, and “chai” means tea. By blending warming spices and simmering them with equal parts water and milk, you get a rich, spicy tea. All spices shine through, with cardamom as the star flavor.
🕒 Prep Time: 10 min
🍰 Yields: 2 servings
🥄 Ingredients
- 1 cup water
- 1 cup full-fat milk (or soy milk)
- 2 heaping tsp black tea leaves (or green/white tea)
- 2 packets vanilla sugar (bourbon vanilla preferred)
Spice Mix:
- 1 green cardamom pod
- 1/2 star anise
- 3 cloves
- 1 small nutmeg piece
- 5 cm cinnamon stick
- A few black peppercorns
- 1/4 tsp ground ginger (heaping tip of teaspoon)
👩🍳 Instructions
- 🌶️ Toast the whole spices in a dry small pan over medium heat until fragrant.
- ⚙️ Lightly crush spices in a coffee grinder or mortar — just enough to break them, not into powder.
- If making larger batches, store the ground spice mix in an airtight jar for up to a week.
- 🔥 Heat milk until hot but not boiling.
- 💧 Boil water separately, then add the crushed spices. Reduce heat and simmer for 10 minutes.
- 🍃 Add tea leaves and simmer another 2–3 minutes. Turn off heat and stir in hot milk.
- 🍬 Place vanilla sugar in two cups and strain the tea over it. Serve immediately hot.
💡 Tips
- Adjust spice quantities to taste for milder or stronger chai.
- Use whole spices for the freshest, most aromatic flavor.
- Vanilla sugar adds a subtle sweetness and floral note.
🎉 Perfect For
- Cozy winter afternoons
- Tea lovers seeking exotic flavors
- Pairing with sweet or savory snacks
📝 Final Thoughts
This authentic masala chai recipe delivers a comforting balance of spices and creamy tea, perfect for chilly days. It’s easy to prepare and brings the warmth of India to your cup.