Masala Chai

by Kiran on January 27, 2015 · 49 comments

in Beverages, Teas

Let’s talk about CHAI and the misuse of this beautiful word.

There is no such thing as Chai Tea. Tea is CHAI in Hindi. Chai Tea Latte is translated as Tea Tea Latte. Chai is known for its warming spices, so the most appropriate term would be Chai Latte.

My ears literarily bleeds whenever CHAI TEA LATTE is uttered 😀

Masala Chai | @KiranTarun http://kirantarun.com/food
Chai Tea Latte’s aside, today I bring you the quintessential Indian beverage — Masala Chai. It’s what I prepare, day or shine, 365 days a year.

Really.

This stuff is even worth sipping during summer. It’s scorching hot but I don’t care, Masala Chai would rule all year around.

Masala Chai | @KiranTarun http://kirantarun.com/food
Best part? It’s so easy to make. So easy, that I bet I can make it with my eyes closed! 😀 Pretty sure a lot of you make coffee like a total champ.

Not that I’m questioning 😉

Masala Chai | @KiranTarun http://kirantarun.com/food

Print This Recipe Print This Recipe

Serves 4

Ingredients:

  • 2.5 cups of water
  • 1 cup of whole or low-fat milk
  • 2 tsp grated fresh ginger
  • 1 cinnamon stick
  • 1/2 tsp whole cloves
  • 2 green cardamom pods, crushed
  • 1 tbsp assam black tea
  • 2 tsp darjeeling full tea leaf
  • 3 to 4 tbsp of raw sugar (or taste)

Directions:

  1. In a deep saucepan, heat water and whole milk on medium high heat. Add grated ginger, cinnamon stick, cloves and crushed cardamom pods.
  2. As soon as liquids begin to simmer, add tea leaves. Continue simmering for another 1 minute. Do not over-simmer. Tea would taste bitter.
  3. As soon as chai color is concentrated and comes to a full simmer, remove from heat, add sugar to taste and stir to combine.
  4. Strain tea into serving mugs and serve hot with your favorite cookies!

Note: feel free to use all assam black tea. I just happen to love the combination with darjeeling full tea leaf.

 

Masala Chai | @KiranTarun http://kirantarun.com/food
Have a great week, my friends. And for those up North, in the East Coast — keep safe and warm!

What’s your favorite “spiced” beverage?

 

Tagged as: assam tea, cardamom, chai, cinnamon, cloves, ginger, Indian tea, latte, masala chai, tea

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1 Angie@Angie's Recipes January 27, 2015 at 1:21 PM

I am still not used to tea made with milk, but I love all the warming spices in Indian chai. Beautiful shots!
Angie@Angie’s Recipes recently posted..Beetroot Chocolate Einkorn Cake

2 Kiran January 30, 2015 at 11:19 AM

Angie — thanks! it’s a revelation, really 🙂 try it and let me know.

3 Rosa January 27, 2015 at 1:43 PM

A delightful tea! Something I love to drink when it’s cold outside.

Cheers,

Rosa

4 Kiran January 30, 2015 at 11:23 AM

Thanks Rosa, and you are right about tea with cold weather 🙂

5 Denise Browning@From Brazil To You January 27, 2015 at 7:47 PM

Kiran:
I am not crazy for tea, but masala tea or masala chai has been a real favorite of mine for years because its warm spices. It is a comforting beverage!
Denise Browning@From Brazil To You recently posted..Açaí Smoothie and How to Make the Perfect Smoothie

6 Kiran January 30, 2015 at 11:24 AM

We are masala chai buddies 🙂

7 Caralyn @ glutenfreehappytummy January 27, 2015 at 7:49 PM

i love chai. so warm and cozy
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8 Kiran January 30, 2015 at 11:25 AM

Perfect reasons for a cuppa, right about now 😀

9 Dixya January 27, 2015 at 9:59 PM

I love a good chai but mine never comes out good. I will give your recipe a try, looks wonderful.
Dixya recently posted..Garlic Sriracha Salmon

10 Kiran January 30, 2015 at 11:28 AM

Mine doesn’t come out too good, every single day. Measured, its a totally different story 🙂 Let me know how it tastes!

11 Choc Chip Uru January 28, 2015 at 12:00 AM

Your chai looks delicious, I wouldn’t mind a glass now – my inner India is coming out 😀

Cheers
Choc Chip Uru
Choc Chip Uru recently posted..Topsy Turvy Australia Day

12 Kiran January 30, 2015 at 3:28 PM

Lol, thanks! Let it out 🙂

13 Tania @mykitchenstories January 28, 2015 at 5:37 AM

Isn’t it annoying when names become popular and you can’t stop the ball rolling. Thankfully we call it Chai Latte here in Australia so if you ever come to visit your ears wont bleed.
Tania @mykitchenstories recently posted..Carrot and Caramel Cake with Popcorn Praline

14 Kiran January 30, 2015 at 3:30 PM

Lol, thanks Australia for getting it right 😀

15 Monica January 28, 2015 at 3:50 PM

Now there’s a cup of chai! Thanks for the clarification. I love tea and I enjoy it piping hot all year round. I think I’m totally missing out with my ‘boring’ plain green and jasmine teas. The spices and milk sound delightful.
Monica recently posted..Jamie Oliver’s chocolate malt cookies

16 Kiran January 30, 2015 at 3:40 PM

Plain green teas are also good, in summer. Now its the time to enjoy masala tea. Give it a try and let me know how it tastes 🙂

17 Lorraine @ Not Quite Nigella January 28, 2015 at 5:54 PM

LOL I must admit that I’ve done that before. I think many, myself included thought that chai means the actual spice blend! 😛

18 Kiran January 30, 2015 at 3:42 PM

Lol, glad I’m able to help clear the misunderstanding 😉

19 John@Kitchen Riffs January 28, 2015 at 6:04 PM

I love tea! Although I usually drink it without milk or sugar (and yes, I know I’m missing something). We have tea most mornings — I really should try this. Thanks!
John@Kitchen Riffs recently posted..BBQ Beef Brisket Chili

20 Kiran January 30, 2015 at 3:43 PM

Thanks John! Best sipped in chilly winter, try it 🙂

21 Ashley January 28, 2015 at 8:54 PM

Oh how warming this looks! It’s been so cold here and I would love to cuddle up on the couch with a mug of this!
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22 Kiran January 30, 2015 at 4:23 PM

Thanks Ashley — just do it 🙂

23 Carol at Wild Goose Tea January 28, 2015 at 11:18 PM

Oh that is funny—-Tea Tea Latte—-Love the recipe.
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24 Kiran January 31, 2015 at 12:10 AM

Carol — lol, glad to clear it up!

25 Helene D'Souza January 29, 2015 at 5:16 AM

haha… ^.^
yeah it does sound strange when somebody says chai tea, even for a foreigner. I noticed that you use Assam and Darjeeling tea leafs. I haven’t tried using whole tea leafs, wonder how it would turn out. Have you ever tried this recipe with nilgiri tea leafs? The organic nilgiri tea is my favorite, it’s light and awakens one but I rarely drink dood tea.
Helene D’Souza recently posted..Easy Potato Cauliflower Masala – Aloo Gobi Curry {Nut-free Vegetarian}

26 Kiran January 31, 2015 at 12:17 AM

Helene — I love using whole tea leaf because for me, it imparts bright tea flavors and not too much color. I’ve never used nilgiri tea leaves before. Intrigued 🙂

27 Maria | Pink Patisserie January 29, 2015 at 10:09 AM

Thank you so much for the interpretation! I had no idea and am so glad to be enlightened! I love, love chai, and homemade beats anything I’ve ever had from the store hands down. Beautiful photos as usual Kiran!
Maria | Pink Patisserie recently posted..Salted Dark Chocolate Pear Scones

28 Kiran January 31, 2015 at 12:18 AM

Thanks Maria 🙂 xo

29 Aimee @ ShugarySweets January 29, 2015 at 10:52 AM

This sounds wonderful. I’m pretty sure I’m guilty of calling it Chai Tea Latte (so embarrassing, LOL). I won’t that mistake anymore 🙂
Aimee @ ShugarySweets recently posted..Baked French Fries with Blue Cheese Sauce

30 Kiran January 31, 2015 at 12:21 AM

Aimee — lol, glad that I helped!

31 Kitchen Belleicious January 29, 2015 at 11:21 AM

i just learned something new. I didn’t know there really wasn’t such a thing as Chai tea! Good to know but boy this looks so amazing- I don’t care if there is chai tea or not! I want this
Kitchen Belleicious recently posted..Healthier Mock Girl Scout Tagalongs (Non-GMO)

32 Kiran January 31, 2015 at 12:24 AM

Jessica — lol, wish I could teleport you some hot masala chai 🙂

33 Julia | JuliasAlbum.com January 30, 2015 at 1:22 AM

That’s a beautiful tea you made! Pure art! It’s so nice to sip on a cup of hot tea with a little savory biscuit or a sweet cookie. Yum!
Julia | JuliasAlbum.com recently posted..Chicken and Wild Rice Casserole

34 Kiran January 31, 2015 at 1:09 AM

Aww, thanks so much Julia 🙂

35 Laura (Tutti Dolci) January 30, 2015 at 1:33 AM

I love chai and your styling is just beautiful!
Laura (Tutti Dolci) recently posted..chocolate cashew toffee cookie bars

36 Kiran January 31, 2015 at 1:09 AM

Thanks so much, Laura xo

37 Joanne January 30, 2015 at 8:20 AM

All of my best friends are Indian so they’re always laughing at the misuse of the words “chai” and “curry” in American culture! All I know is…I want a large mug of this and SOON.
Joanne recently posted..Conversation Heart Cakes

38 Kiran January 31, 2015 at 1:12 AM

Lol, how can I forget about “curry” 😀

39 Jen L | Tartine and Apron Strings January 30, 2015 at 9:41 AM

Oh yay! I don’t think people are aware that chai is tea. Media has always promoted chai as a ‘type’ of tea. Yeah, talk about lost in translation! So, it’s up to you, the blogger (hehehehehe, no pressure!) to educate. LOL!
Jen L | Tartine and Apron Strings recently posted..Pandan Cupcakes with Lychee Buttercream

40 Kiran January 31, 2015 at 1:13 AM

lol, you are way too cute!

41 Magda | My Little Expat Kitchen February 1, 2015 at 6:31 AM

This looks stunning! The first and only Indian chai I had was at an Indian friend’s house and since then I fell in love with it. But, alas, I never made it myself. I will have to try yours, it looks amazing. By the way, in Greek, tea is called chai as well, only we write it tsai (τσάι) 🙂 So I get how it is superfluous to you to read chai tea. But for English-speaking people I guess they have to write it that way, otherwise they wouldn’t know what it is 😉
Magda | My Little Expat Kitchen recently posted..The easiest and quickest tyropitakia (Greek individual cheese pies)

42 Kiran February 2, 2015 at 7:49 PM

Thanks Magda — lol, I guess i’ll let it pass for them 😉

43 Daniela @ FoodrecipesHQ February 2, 2015 at 9:26 AM

I discovered and fell in love with Masala Chai in Malaysia last November. I miss sipping this delicious drink that tastes better than hot chocolate to me. Back home in Italy I tried to make my own Masala tea using a blend I bought in London. Unfortunately the result was nothing close to the original chai. I am now trying to source all the ingredients in order to make the tea according to this recipe of yours.

44 Kiran February 2, 2015 at 7:59 PM

Daniela — I hope you get to enjoy an authentic masala chai experience soon. If not, this Malaysian classic teh tarik (http://kirantarun.com/food/2014/01/24/teh-tarik-malaysian-pulled-tea/) would do some magic too 🙂

45 Creative Khadija February 9, 2015 at 3:27 AM

Great! what a perfect Masala chai recipe! Here in Islamabad, Pakistan, winter is going well right now! so its time to enjoy masala chai 🙂
Creative Khadija recently posted..Gift Packing Idea for Valentine’s Day

46 Krystal March 25, 2015 at 8:20 AM

I love love love chai tea… haa haa did your ears bleed there?? Just kidding, I really do love masala chai but have yet to make it from scratch. This looks so easy and I have all the spices on hand.Will give it a try for sure!

47 Mamta June 13, 2016 at 9:28 AM

My Hubby is not satisfied with the tea I usually make for him.
I will definitely try this out for her. Thanks for sharing the information.

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