When I first went to India, I fell in love with chai. I love chai so much I drank it for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Masala chai’s history began between 5,000-9,000 years ago as a cleansing, Ayurvedic beverage. In 1835, the British set up tea plantations in Assam, India. The black teas produced there made its way into local masala chai recipes. In the early 1900s, the British-owned Indian Tea Association began to promote tea consumption within India. Because black tea was the most expensive ingredient, vendors used milk, sugar, and spices to flavor the beverage while bringing down the cost per cup. In the 1960s, the price of black tea decreased drastically, making black tea affordable for the masses.
Chai recipes vary vastly from family to family. You can also change the spices, milk and sweetener in the tea to your preference.
Masala Spice Mix
- 20 grams Cinnamon
- 30 grams Green Cardamom
- 15 grams Cloves
- 15 grams Ginger powder
- 20 grams Fennel Seeds
To make 100 grams of chai mix, dry roast all the below ingredients for 2-3 minutes. Grind them together to make a fine powder using a small blender or mortar and pestle. See recipe below on how to make a cup of chai.
Masala Chai Step-by-Step Recipe
Makes 1 serving
- 1 1/4 cup water
- 1 tsp black tea
- 1.5 tsp brown sugar crystals (or sweetener of choice)
- 3/4 tsp masala mix
- 3/4 cup milk (or milk product of your choice)
- Pour water into a small saucepan. Once water is warm add black tea leaves and brown sugar crystals. Let water come to a boil.
- Once water is boiling add your masala mix.
- Let the masala mix boil with the tea and sweetener for about 2-3 minutes or until fragrant.
- Add milk and let the mixture come to a boil for about 4-5 minutes.
- Use a strainer and pour into a cup. Enjoy!
Once you make the first batch of chai you can customize yours based on taste. For example you can add more cinnamon or green cardamom to your personal taste. There are also pre-made chai mixes. This one linked has black pepper which I personally don’t like so make sure to read the labels carefully.
Indian Stores for Ingredients: Patel Brothers
