This authentic Indian-style masala tea recipe is something everyone must try! It’s hard to describe the experience that drinking masala chai provides.

The name “masala chai” might sound foreign, and it seems like you need a lot of exotic ingredients to make masala chai. However, that’s not the case at all. All the necessary ingredients are available at regular grocery stores, and it wouldn’t be surprising if eager housewives already have them in their cupboards.

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While masala chai is associated with India, where it’s naturally very hot, I actually crave masala tea during colder weather. Perhaps it’s because the spices in masala chai are similar to those used in gingerbread dough, which makes me think of masala tea on crisp days.

I don’t have Indian roots, and I’m only superficially familiar with Indian culture. However, I learned to make masala tea from an Indian friend. In fact, making this magical brew is very simple, and any Northern European, regardless of any connection to India, can certainly master it.

Nevertheless, there are some nuances to masala chai one should pay attention to, and certain ingredients should definitely be included to achieve the perfect taste.

What is masala chai?

Masala chai is a famous Indian drink, integral to their daily culture. The word “Masala” means spice, and the word “chai” means tea, so it means spiced tea.

Masala chai is made from black tea leaves, various aromatic spices, milk, and sugar. Together, these elements work wonderfully, creating a cohesive, delicious whole.

Chai concentrate or homemade chai

I first encountered masala chai over ten years ago when I was offered it in a café. On that occasion, I drank masala tea made from concentrate, which tasted wonderful, but I had no idea what I was missing out on.

After that, I fell in love with chai and made the drink from concentrate at home many times. However, concentrate from a grocery store might not taste nearly as good as authentic Indian masala tea, and the best cup of chai comes from making your own spice mix.

Masala spice blend

You can include quite a few different spices in the masala tea, leave some out, or play with different quantities. This tea is very flexible, and everyone makes it slightly differently.

The most common spices you should use in masala tea include: ginger, black pepper, cinnamon, star anise, green cardamom pods, cloves, and nutmeg, though you can add other fragrant spices as well.

I would not leave ginger, cloves, cardamom, and cinnamon out of my masala tea. This blend of spices is a crucial flavor enhancer for me, and they were recommended by the Indian girl who taught me how to make masala chai.

However, you can still achieve good results using other spices if you don’t have all the mentioned ones at home.

Masala tea sweetener

You can use whatever sweetener you’re accustomed to in your tea. In our house, we don’t use white sugar, we flavor everything with raw cane sugar. But you can sweeten your tea with honey or maple syrup just as well.

Add the sweetener to the tea after pouring it into the cups, because everyone might have different sweetness preferences. I like my masala chai very sweet, while my spouse prefers almost no sugar at all. I do recommend adding a little sweetness, as it helps the flavors stand out better.

Milk ratio

You don’t need to measure the milk-to-water ratio very precisely, but generally, masala chai is made with a 1:1 ratio, half milk, and half water. If you prefer it creamier, you can go with a 2:1 ratio.

FAQ

How to prevent milk from burning at the bottom?

This can be quite challenging to avoid, but if it happens, add some water to the bottom of the pan and heat it again to loosen the burnt parts. Scrubbing with a steel brush can also help.

Ingredients

Check the recipe card at the bottom of the post for ingredient quantities and nutritional information!

Milk – organic whole milk or raw milk works best for this purpose. You can also use plant-based milk like coconut milk.

Water

Brown sugar – or any other sweetener like honey.

Spices – I definitely recommend using cinnamon, ginger, cloves, and cardamom, though there are more suitable spices.

Black tea – use pure, organic black tea.

Tips and Ideas

• If you want your hot cup of masala chai extra spicy, add some black peppercorns to the tea.

How to make Masala Tea

• Pour water into a saucepan and bring to a boil.

• Add the ground crushed spices and black tea to the boiling water. If possible, use freshly ground spices. You can add whole spices without grinding, but the flavors won’t come out as well. For grinding, a mortar and pestle work best.

• Let it simmer for a few minutes, then add the milk.

• Simmer the tea for about 15 minutes, but stay by the stove to ensure the milk doesn’t boil over or burn at the bottom.

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Perfect Homemade Indian Masala Chai - Authentic Recipe

Yield: 2l

Prep Time: 5 minutes

Cook Time: 15 minutes

Total Time: 20 minutes

This authentic Indian-style masala tea recipe is something everyone must try! It's hard to describe the experience that drinking masala chai provides.

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Ingredients

• 1l of water
• 1l of milk
• 8-10 whole cloves
• 2 tsp of cinnamon
• 1 tsp of ginger powder
• 4 green cardamom pods
• 6 tbsp or bags of black tea
• 2 tsp of sugar (for one cup of tea)

Instructions

1. Pour water into a saucepan and bring to a boil.
2. Add the ground crushed spices and black tea to the boiling water. If possible, use freshly ground spices. You can add whole spices without grinding, but the flavors won't come out as well. For grinding, a mortar and pestle work best.
3. Let it simmer for a few minutes, then add the milk.
4. Simmer the tea for about 15 minutes, but stay by the stove to ensure the milk doesn't boil over or burn at the bottom.

Nutrition Information:

Yield: 1 Serving Size: 1
Amount Per Serving: Calories: 570Total Fat: 21gSaturated Fat: 13gTrans Fat: 1gUnsaturated Fat: 7gCholesterol: 83mgSodium: 530mgCarbohydrates: 64gFiber: 4gSugar: 61gProtein: 34g