Chai Masala- Indian Spiced Tea recipe

I wanted to share my adapted recipe for Chai Masala. 

Masala Chai is my favorite type of tea. It is comforting, spicy, creamy, All the things I love. I drink it year round. When I am in a rush I use pre made tea bags. But if I want a special treat for the *real thing*. I make a pot on the stove to share with my guests. This recipe is simple enough that anyone can do it. The only special equipment you really need to a sieve or strainer, or a tea infuser. If you do not have that you can use individual high quality black tea bags.  I prefer to pour the whole pot through the strainer but I am sure you could improvise with a coffee pot basket and filter. (If you try that let me know how it turned out.)

First you need to make your spice blend.

This is a recipe that uses ground spices, you can grind your own, or use already ground. I like to use ground so that I can store the spice blend and use it over time. Or sprinkle on other desserts. It's great on Greek yogurt or toast. You could brew your tea with whole spices as well using a different recipe. This recipe is not just for one serving of spice mix, so you will definitely have enough to brew another batch of tea later or sprinkle on coffee if that is your thing. 😉 

Chai Masala Spice Blend Recipe

Ingredients

2 tbsp ginger powder

2 tbsp cardamom, ground

1 tsp nutmeg, grated

1 1/2 tsp cloves, ground

1 1/2 tsp black pepper, ground

3 tbsp cinnamon, ground

1/4 tsp saffron

*Link to recipe I used 

The Tea

Next you need to buy your tea. Assam black tea is traditional for Indian chai. It is stronger brew so it lends itself better to milk. I like tea India brand you can buy it at their website here  Tea india link or on Amazon here Amazon Tea India. These are bulk quantities of plain black tea and they do not contain the spices. Tea India also sells tea bags with the spices in it (Amazon link here) and instant chai latte (Amazon link here) which has the milk [powder] in it already. But we are using the pain black to to make our own more authentic recipe. I use the Chai Masala bags  from Tea India regularly but when I want to make a strong milky homemade chai I use the loose leaf and spice mix. It is more special. And it tastes better with the tea brewed in the milk with the spices.  

Tea India is available locally in some ethnic groceries as well. If you have that locally, check your stores. 

***Now to the recipe of how to make traditional Chai Masala. ***

Ingredients:

• 2 cups water
• 1 cups milk (I use whole you can add more milk and less water if it is lower fat or nondairy) Evaporated milk is also commonly used (may want to add less)
• 3 tsp loose leaf black tea (You can use  high quality plain black tea bags if you do not have a strainer)
• 1 tsp spice mix (more if you are a spice girl like me)
• Sugar to taste - 3 teaspoons for 3 cups is a good regular amount of sweet or zero calorie sweetener or honey 

Directions:

1. In a small saucepan bring the water to Boil on high  
2. Add the milk and tea and spices and sugar*
3. Turn to medium heat bring back to boil
4. Turn to level 3 simmer for 3 min to 5 min depending on how strong you like it. You will notice the color should turn a milky orange. Be careful to not let it boil over. Give it a stir so the milk doesn't burn. 
5. Strain into a tea pot or another pot/ bowl and let cool to drinking temp
6. Pour or ladle into individual tea cups *(you can add your sweetener at this stage if each cup wants different type or amounts of sweetener) 
7. Enjoy! 

* Adapted from this website https://indiaphile.info/chai/