Masala Chai Recipe

Name: Masala Chai
Prep time: 2 min
Cook time: 10 min
Total time: 12 min
Yield: 2 cups
Cuisine: Indian
Ingredients: 2 cups water; 2 teaspoons loose black tea (or 2 tea bags); 1/2 cup milk (whole or 2%); 2 tablespoons sugar (or to taste); 2 green cardamom pods, lightly crushed; 1 small cinnamon stick (about 1 inch); 2 whole cloves; 1 small piece fresh ginger (about 1/2 inch), sliced; 1/4 teaspoon fennel seeds (optional); 2 black peppercorns (optional)

Indian · Beverage · 12 min total

Masala Chai recipe videos

A fragrant and spiced Indian tea made by simmering black tea with milk, sugar, and a blend of aromatic spices. This recipe yields a comforting, authentic cup of chai.

2
min prep

10
min cook

2
servings

80
kcal/serving

Ingredients

2 cups water
2 teaspoons loose black tea (or 2 tea bags)
1/2 cup milk (whole or 2%)
2 tablespoons sugar (or to taste)
2 green cardamom pods, lightly crushed
1 small cinnamon stick (about 1 inch)
2 whole cloves
1 small piece fresh ginger (about 1/2 inch), sliced
1/4 teaspoon fennel seeds (optional)
2 black peppercorns (optional)

Instructions

In a small saucepan, combine water, cardamom, cinnamon, cloves, ginger, and optional fennel seeds and peppercorns. Bring to a boil over high heat.
Reduce heat to low, cover, and simmer for 5 minutes to infuse the spices.
Add the black tea and sugar, stir, and bring to a boil again.
Pour in the milk and bring to a boil. Watch carefully to prevent boiling over.
Reduce heat to low and simmer for 2-3 minutes, allowing the tea to steep and the flavors to meld.
Strain the chai through a fine-mesh sieve into cups. Serve hot.

Tips

For a stronger tea, steep longer before adding milk.
Adjust sugar to your taste; traditional chai is sweet.
Use whole spices for best flavor; ground spices can make the tea cloudy.
Garnish with a pinch of ground cardamom or cinnamon if desired.

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