Tea or coffee is one of life’s important questions and travelers to India will soon discover how important a hot cup of tea is to Indian life. Taken at all times of the day and night, Indian masala chai is the perfect drink for any occasion. Though recipes and styles vary from family to family and culture to culture, making a good, strong Indian masala tea is not difficult at all.
Indian Chai Ingredients
Making Indian chai is real easy but requires a few special ingredients that can be found in specialty tea shops or Indian food stores. Here’s a list of the basic Indian chai ingredients:
- strong loose-leaf black tea such as Assam
- cardamom
- tea masala
- ginger
- cinnamon
- star anise
- peppercorns
- cloves
- a strainer
Indian Masala Chai Flavors
The predominant note of an Indian masala tea is cardamom, which is a staple through most of India. Ginger is the second most popular ingredient, followed by cinnamon, peppercorns, cloves or star anise. Ready-made chai masala in powdered form is also available, which can simply be added to the tea leaves, water and milk.
Popular Indian tea brands are Red Label, Society, Double Diamond, Godrej and many others. Especially in western parts of the world, individual “chai” teabags are available, which need to be steeped. These can be used but will not give the tea the full flavor a slowly boiled loose-leaf tea will produce.
In Western India, mint leaves are used instead of other spices and in Kashmir, green tea is spiced with almonds, cardamom, cinnamon, cloves and even saffron to make masala tea. Vanilla and chocolate flavors in masala chai are popular in the west, where organic masala chai is also in demand.
Basic Indian Chai Recipe
The real Indian chai is drunk with lots of milk, at least half a cup to every full one, and very hot and usually sweet. Here’s a basic recipe that can be varied according to taste:
- Measure the water needed for the desired number of cups of tea. Rule of thumb: mix milk and water in equal parts, for example one cup of milk and one cup of water for two cups.
- Add tea powder to the water, approximately one level tea spoon per cup.
- Add the seeds of one cardamom to the water (adjust accordingly if making more cups).
- Bring the water to a boil.
- Then add the milk and boil again.
- Slow the heat and boil the tea again until it is the color of dark caramel.
- Strain the tea and pour into cups.
- Add sugar according to individual preferences.
- Serve with biscuits and at least one salty snack like crackers or chips.
In some households, milk, water, spices and tea leaves are brought to a boil together, in others, the spices are added last (or first). Some people add the sugar when putting in the milk, but with more and more people watching their sugar intake and even Indian chai calories, it is best to add sugar or artificial sweeteners later. There really is no right or wrong way to make masala chai - it should just be boiled properly instead of just being steeped.
Some Interesting Facts About Indian Chai
Chai is the Indian word for tea and masala for spice, so masala chai means spiced tea. Though chai is just the generic South Asian term for tea, in many parts of the world it has become synonymous with masala tea.
Chai is a popular drink throughout South Asia where roadside vendors called chaiwalas or chaiwallas sell authentic masala tea. Because the tea is boiled over sustained heat, its caffeine content is comparable to that of coffee, the preferred drink in South India.
Regardless if prepared for one, a whole family or at various times of the day, Indian masala chai is always an aromatic, refreshing drink that is easy to make.
Readers interested in Indian tea may also be interested in other Indian traditions like the upcoming Raksha Bandhan friendship festival, Indian weddings or Indian baby names for girls and boys.
