Masala Chai

A fragrant and comforting Indian tea with strong black tea, spices, milk, and sugar.

Prep Time

5 minutes

Total Time

20 minutes

Calories

Level

Easy

Yields

4 servings

Cost

£0.25

Season:

☀️ Summer

Meal Type:

Lunch•Dinner

Cuisine:

Indian

Mood:

Comfort Food•Spicy

Ingredients

Servings

2cupsWater

2tablespoonsBlack Tea Leaves(Use a strong black tea like Assam or Darjeeling)

£0.15

4wholeGreen Cardamom Pods(Lightly crushed)

£0.20

12-inch pieceCinnamon Stick

£0.10

4wholeWhole Cloves

£0.05

1inchFresh Ginger(Peeled and thinly sliced or grated)

£0.15

4wholeBlack Peppercorns(Optional, but adds a nice kick)

£0.02

1cupMilk(Whole milk or your preferred milk alternative (almond, soy, etc.))

£0.30

2teaspoonsSugar(Or to taste)

£0.03

Total Cost

£1.00

£0.25 per serving

The Method

1
In a saucepan, combine the water, cardamom pods, cinnamon stick, cloves, ginger, and peppercorns (if using). Bring to a boil over medium heat.
2
Once boiling, reduce heat and simmer for 5-7 minutes to allow the spices to infuse into the water.
3
Add the black tea leaves to the saucepan and simmer for another 3-5 minutes, depending on your desired strength. Be careful not to over-boil, as this can make the tea bitter.
4
Pour in the milk and bring the mixture almost to a boil, but don't let it boil over. Reduce heat and simmer for another 2-3 minutes, stirring occasionally.
5
Remove the saucepan from the heat and strain the tea through a fine-mesh sieve into cups.
6
Add sugar to each cup to taste and serve hot.

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My Notes

Nutrition Information

Nutrition per serving (225g)

75 kcal / 314 kJ

Carbs

6.8g

3% of RDA

Fat

4.3g

6% of RDA

Protein

3.8g

8% of RDA

Detailed Breakdown

Fibre

0.5 g

2% of RDA

Sugar

6 g

7% of RDA

Sodium

50 mg

2% of RDA

Saturated Fat

2.5 g

13% of RDA

Chef's Tips

Adjust the amount of spices to your liking. You can add more or less of any spice to customize the flavor.

For a richer chai, use full-fat milk. You can also add a tablespoon of heavy cream.

If using loose leaf tea, a tea infuser or tea bag can be used instead of straining after the tea is made.

For a stronger flavor, simmer the spices for longer before adding the tea.

You can also add other spices like nutmeg, star anise, or fennel seeds for a unique flavor profile.

Cooking Equipment

Stovetop

Saucepan

Wine Pairings

No wine pairing suggestions available for this recipe.

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