A cup of Chai…
I’m a coffee person, and if I can say so myself, kind of a coffee addict. I’ve never like tea and that has always shocked people around me. You see, tea is sort of the national drink in India. A hot cup of tea is always served to guest right as they enter the door. I’ve got many a wierd look when I kindly refuse to take the steaming cup and ask for coffee instead.
But that’s just the way it is. I don’t know how or why, but I became a coffee lover - much to the amazement of my parents! Hubby dear on the other hand, is a true blue Indian tea lover. Nothing can soothe and calm his senses any more than my special cup of masala chai, that I must honestly confess, he taught me how to make! But after all this time of brewing the perfect cuppa for him, he admits that I make it much better than he ever did.
Masala Chai (Indian Spiced Tea)
Ingredients:
- 2 cups water
- 2 tsp tea powder
- 1/2 cup milk
- 5-6 cloves
- 5-6 green cardamom pods
- a pinch of crushed black pepper
- sugar, to taste
Method:
- Boil water in a small pan and add tea and spices.
- Add in milk, lower the heat and allow it to come to a boil.
- Pour into cups through a strainer and add sugar according to taste.
- Serve hot and feel your nerves begin to relax.
Tastes great with any sort for fried Indian snacks - like the Onion and Egg Patties seen in the pic!
December 15th, 2005 19:41
I could use this right now. Can I use any type of teabag?
Paz
December 15th, 2005 20:03
Hi Paz!
I’d suggest using plain tea, or at the least “English Breakfast”, since other flavoured teas would not taste good with the spices.
I do hope you like it. Let me know how it goes!
July 2nd, 2007 12:21
Hi Meena, I’ve just made chai like you suggest, and it’s absolutely lovely! This is the first, but not the last, time that I’ve had Indian chai. Thanks for sharing this recipe. I guess that for many people this is such a mundane, common thing, something that everyone knows how to make. However, I am not Indian, and I love learning about India and its food, so a post like this enables me to learn more.
July 16th, 2008 16:51
This is my first post. I loved your blog, site and recipes. I am a avid fan of masala chai and wanted to add my 2 cents to it.
Have you tried Masala chai with ginger? Try this and let me know.
Heat water, while water is heating grate ginger(lots of it) into the pan. bring to a boil and then add tea leaves. And then milk. Last sugar. Also, I make water and 2% milk 1:1. Some people like it less milky. For me, I can’t imagine masala chai without ginger. I could do away with all the rest of spices, but not ginger. But when I have company I do add cloves, cardomam and peppers (whole, but only couple or so) along with the super ingredient “ginger”.