Indian Chai Masala Recipe (2024)

Jump to Recipe Jump to Video Print Recipe

Chai Masala is an Indian spice mix mainly used to flavor the milk tea (chai). This masala tea powder is a dry, ready-to-use, gluten-free, and vegan spice powder that can be stored for a year. It is is the secret ingredient to make the Indian style masala chai at home.

Indian Chai Masala Recipe (1)Pin

What is Masala Chai?

Masala Chai is an Indian style hot milk tea flavored with spices. It is a more fragrant and spiced version of English milk tea.

Masala Chai is perfect for colder days and for curing anything from a runny nose to a broken heart. It is a widely popular drink in the Indian sub-continent.

Chai or tea isn’t just another beverage in the subcontinent. Instead, it’s an emotion and something that one can share memories, good weather, and gossip over.

Masala chai is high has a lot of medicinal benefits, which comes from the chai masala used in making the tea.

Indian Chai Masala Recipe (2)Pin

What is Masala Tea Made Of?

You need these 4 ingredients to make a perfect cup of masala tea:

Water

Chai Masala

Black Tea Leaves (chai patti)

Sugar (Optional)

Milk

Masala Tea Benefits

Masala tea is unarguably delicious, but it also boasts of several benefits apart from the taste, which gives you one more reason to get another cuppa.

  1. Reduces inflammation – Ginger present in the tea masala is effective in reducing inflammation in the body. Inflammation is the underlying cause of most diseases
  2. Balances hormones – Cinnamon and cloves in the tea masala help women balance their hormones, promote insulin absorption and help balance blood sugars
  3. Better digestion – A hot cup of tea may help your food digest better and aid in reducing bloating and weight loss as well
  4. Clears the sinuses – For those with a blocked nose or annoyingly plugged masala passage, a steaming hot cup of masala chai may help hear out block sinuses and relieve discomfort
  5. Instant mood upliftment – Needless to say, tea instantly energizes you a gives you fresh start regardless of what time of day you drink it
Indian Chai Masala Recipe (3)Pin

About Chai Masala

Chai Masala is super simple to make at home and can be easily stored at room temperature for a year.

It is a blend of – green cardamom, cloves, cinnamon, black peppercorns, dry ginger powder, and nutmeg.

All you need to do is dry roast the whole spices in a cast-iron skillet till the aroma is released. Next, grind them to a powder, mix ginger powder, and your tea masala is ready to use.

A dash of masala tea powder can be used in cinnamon rolls, pumpkin pie, pumpkin cake, or gingerbread cake. Instead of opening different jars of spices, it is always easy to add a teaspoon of chai masala to flavor the dish.

Indian Chai Masala Recipe (4)Pin

Ingredients Required

You need only 6 ingredients to make tea masala powder at home from scratch. The blend of these spices gives the chai a unique and comforting taste.

Each of these spices has tons of medicinal benefits.

Green Cardamom: The green cardamom is known as ‘elaichi’ in Hindi. It adds aroma and sweet taste to the tea masala. Green cardamom is a great antioxidant as well.

Cloves: The cloves are called ‘laung’ in Hindi. It has a sharp and earthy taste. It is a natural home remedy for dental pain or cold/cough.

Cinnamon: The cinnamon or ‘dal chini’ is the best companion of milk beverages. It gives an earthy taste and aroma to the tea. Along with that, it is an antioxidant that helps in controlling diabetes, cholesterol, and high blood pressure.

Black Peppercorns: The black pepper or ‘kali mirch’ gives a little spicy kick to the tea masala. It is also an anti-inflammatory that aids in digestion too.

Dry Ginger Powder: The dry ginger powder is known as ‘saunth’ in Hindi. It is the powder of dried ginger roots.

Usually, fresh ginger root is added separately in masala tea. But with ginger powder already in the spice mix no need to add fresh ginger root. It is an anti-inflammatory that soothes sore throat as well.

Nutmeg: A tiny piece of ‘jaiphal’ is added to the chai masala to give it a spicy kick and warmth. It aids in digestion and strengthens the human immunity system.

Indian Chai Masala Recipe (5)Pin

Making Masala Tea

While most people know how to make tea, here are some basic tips on how one can make tea tastier:

Always, correctly measure the water for making the tea. If you are making 2 cups of tea, then use exactly 2 cups of water.

Add ½ teaspoon of chai masala. Let the spice powder boil for 10 – 20 seconds to flavor the water. Without this step, your tea will not get enough of the magic from the chai masala.

Don’t add too much of the tea leaves, it will only make your tea bitter. A teaspoon of strong tea leaves is enough for making 2 cups of tea.

Avoid boiling water for too long after adding tea leaves and sugar. Even for making iced tea, I avoid steeping tea for too long. It makes any kind of tea (hot or cold0 bitter. Another 10 – 20 seconds is enough. Stir once or twice with a spoon.

Don’t add too much milk – While milk aids in flavoring tea, too much of it makes the drink too thick and milky. For 2 cups of tea, half a cup of full cream or toned milk is sufficient.

Allow the tea to simmer over low heat for a few seconds to get the excellent color and taste. At this stage, you can taste the tea and add more sugar or milk, if required.

Watch Chai Masala Recipe Video

Storage Suggestion

Store Chai Masala at room temperature in an airtight container. It remains fresh and aromatic for 6 months.

Or you can store it in the refrigerator in an airtight jar to increase the shelf life.

I prefer storing tea masala powder in a glass jar with a tight-fitting lid to retain its freshness, taste, and aroma.

More Indian Spice Recipes

Homemade Garam Masala

Homemade Sambar Powder

Homemade Curry Powder

Homemade Pickle Masala

For more such fun recipes in your lifesubscribe to ourweekly newsletteror follow us onInstagramandYoutubefor video recipes.

If you try this recipe and love it, please leave a Star Rating. This helps us grow and reach many other food lovers like you, who are looking for a perfect tried and tested recipe.

Indian Chai Masala Recipe (6)Pin

Chai Ka Masala Recipe

Chai Masala is an Indian spice mix mainly used to flavor the milk tea (chai). Learn how to make masala tea powder in a few simple steps.

5 from 10 votes

Print Pin Rate

Course: Side Dish

Cuisine: Indian

Prep Time: 10 minutes minutes

Cook Time: 5 minutes minutes

Total Time: 15 minutes minutes

Servings: 100 gram

Calories: 1kcal

Author: Hina Gujral

  • Grinder

  • Stir Fry Pan

Ingredients

  • 1 tablespoon Green Cardamon (Elaichi)
  • 1 tablespoon Dry Ginger Powder (Saunth)
  • ½ tablespoon Cloves (Laung)
  • ½ tablespoon Black Peppercorns (Kali mirch)
  • ½ inch Cinnamon (Dal chini)
  • ¼ tablespoon or half piece Nutmeg (Jayphal)

Instructions

  • Dry roast all the spices except ginger powder over low heat for 2-3 minutes. Or you can roast the spices till their aroma is released. Turn off the heat. Allow the spices to cool down a bit

  • Grind roasted spices to a fine or coarse powder. Use a strong blade dry mixing jar for the purpose

  • Combine ginger powder in the chai masala and mix nicely

  • Chai masala is ready. Store it in a air tight container for 6 months to 1 year

  • Half a teaspoon of chai spice mix is sufficient for making two cups of tea. Or you can increase the quantity of chai masala as per taste preference.

Recipe Notes:

  • While roasting the spices make sure not to brown them or roast for too long. Else, they will turn bitter.
  • No need to roast the dry ginger powder.
  • Use a strong blade, heavy duty mixer for grinding spices. Please do not use smoothie blenders for grinding whole spices.
  • You can store chai masala at room temperature for 6 months to 1 year. Make sure to use a clean and dry spoon to scoop the masala powder.
  • Homemade tea masala is strong in taste than the packaged one. So add in tea accordingly.

Nutrition

Calories: 1kcal | Carbohydrates: 1g | Protein: 1g | Fat: 1g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Sodium: 1mg | Potassium: 2mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 1g | Vitamin C: 1mg | Calcium: 1mg | Iron: 1mg

For Behind The Scene updatesSubscribe to our newsletter!

You might also like:

Pakodi Ki Sabzi (No Onion/Garlic Recipe)Salad in a Jar 101Leftover Dal Paratha RecipeCrispy Chilli Baby Corn Recipe
Indian Chai Masala Recipe (2024)

FAQs

What is chai masala made of? ›

A typical mix has ingredients like ground cinnamon, ginger, allspice, nutmeg, cloves, cardamom, black pepper, and/or fennel, though the exact ingredients might differ depending on the manufacturer or recipe. If you're making your own chai masala blend, try not to overthink it.

What is chai made of in India? ›

Authentic Indian chai, or Masala chai, is made with water, milk, sugar, black tea, and spices, usually consisting of cardamom, cinnamon, ginger, and fennel.

What is the difference between chai and masala chai? ›

' While both chai tea and masala chai are made with black tea, their main difference is the spices used in their preparation. Chai tea is essentially just black tea with milk and sugar, while masala chai is prepared with a blend of spices that typically includes cinnamon, cardamom, ginger, cloves, and black pepper.

What is the difference between American chai and Indian chai? ›

Chai directly translates to tea, causing the name to be a bit repetitive (tea tea). Other differences include the type of milk used. In India, whole milk is typically used, while in America, anything from skim milk to non-dairy milk can be seen incorporated into chai drinks.

Can you drink masala chai everyday? ›

Not only does masala chai offer a delicious and unique flavour, but it also provides a range of health benefits that you can enjoy every day. Masala chai is a rich source of antioxidants that can help boost your immune system.

Is masala chai healthier than coffee? ›

Masala tea is much healthier than coffee because of its antioxidant properties, lower caffeine content, and other health benefits like boosting immunity. However, coffee can be healthy too, but only if taken in moderation.

What do Indians call chai tea? ›

But in the early days of my personal chai obsession, I learned that chai actually means tea in Hindi, and many other languages spoken throughout India and Pakistan. So saying "chai tea" is pretty redundant. It actually just means "tea... tea".

Is Indian chai good for you? ›

Chai tea is a fragrant, spicy tea that may help boost heart health, reduce blood sugar levels, aid digestion and help with weight loss. Although most of these health benefits are backed by science, it's worth noting that they are generally linked to the ingredients used in chai tea rather than chai tea itself.

Who makes the best chai in India? ›

  • List of the best teas. Name. ...
  • Wagh Bakri Premium Leaf Tea Pack, 1kg. Wagh Bakri Premium Leaf Tea Pack, 1kg. ...
  • Tata Tea Premium. ...
  • Red Label Natural Care Tea. ...
  • Tata Tea Gold. ...
  • Lipton Darjeeling Long Leaf Loose Tea. ...
  • Taj Mahal South Tea. ...
  • Society Tea Leaf Tea.
Mar 14, 2024

Why is masala chai so popular? ›

Indians love the Masala Chai blend as it includes the two things that are preferred by Indian tastes– spices, and tea. As the country is popular as the hub of spices, several traditional recipes include intricate combinations of Masala Chai.

What's a dirty chai? ›

Dirty chai is a popular espresso beverage made with tea or chai concentrate, one shot of espresso, and steamed milk. Unlike ordinary chai (masala chai) or sticky chai, the outcome is a blend of regular latte and chai. Spices frequently used in dirty chai are black pepper, ginger, cloves, cinnamon, and cardamom.

Is Starbucks chai masala chai? ›

How to make tea in India. The version that Starbucks modelled its tea after is masala chai—”masala” in Hindi translates to ”spices.” Grated ginger, black pepper and cardamom are common ingredients.

Why is Indian chai so good? ›

Classic chai is spiced with cardamom, cinnamon, ginger, and cloves. Other ingredients that may be present in smaller quantities include: star anise, nutmeg, fennel, pepper, and coriander. Chai is a delightful and tasty treat. It's a spicy tea cooked slowly so the flavors seep out and spill into the hot water.

Why do Indians drink chai tea? ›

To the people of India, Chai is more than just a simple cup of tea. Its thick, sweet nectar is foundational to the rhythms of daily life. A symbol of hospitality, Chai evokes a sense of identity. It connects people to their heritage and, to many, is a lasting source of habitual comfort.

Why do Americans say chai tea? ›

But in India, chai is not a flavor of tea; it is tea—chai literally translates to "tea" in Hindi, so when you are saying "chai tea," you are basically saying, "tea tea." What we think of in America as this highly specialized beverage is, in India, simply the standard way of preparing tea.

Is chai masala good for you? ›

Masala chai is regarded as the finest natural immune booster of all time due to cinnamon and basil leaves. It aids in the prevention of certain diseases and has several medical advantages. Cinnamon and basil have been used for centuries to prevent serious heart attacks, blood clotting, and other complications.

What does masala chai taste like? ›

Overall, masala chai has a complex, aromatic flavor that is both sweet and spicy. The black tea provides a strong, bold flavor that is balanced by the sweet and spicy notes of the spices. The spices used in masala chai can vary, so the exact flavor profile of the tea may vary depending on the specific blend.

Is masala chai anti-inflammatory? ›

Thanks to the good ol' Ginger, Masala Chai has strong anti-inflammatory properties that alleviate nausea and help treat common ailments. Another ingredient that works wonders is clove. It is commonly used as a pain reliever as it reduces inflammation.

References

Top Articles
Latest Posts
Recommended Articles
Article information

Author: Kieth Sipes

Last Updated:

Views: 6063

Rating: 4.7 / 5 (67 voted)

Reviews: 82% of readers found this page helpful

Author information

Name: Kieth Sipes

Birthday: 2001-04-14

Address: Suite 492 62479 Champlin Loop, South Catrice, MS 57271

Phone: +9663362133320

Job: District Sales Analyst

Hobby: Digital arts, Dance, Ghost hunting, Worldbuilding, Kayaking, Table tennis, 3D printing

Introduction: My name is Kieth Sipes, I am a zany, rich, courageous, powerful, faithful, jolly, excited person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.