How To

How to Make Chai Tea

Member
By RainMaker
User-Submitted Article
(20 Ratings)

Chai tea, or masala chai, or chai latte, is a heart-warming tradition in Indian households, and a great way to relax in any culture. This is a traditional Indian recipe; compare it to the Starbucks version.

Difficulty: Easy
Instructions

Things You'll Need:

  • 2 cups water
  • 1 cubic inch of fresh ginger
  • Black tea -- Assam or Darjeeling -- enough for 2 cups
  • 1/4 tsp whole fennel seeds
  • 1/8 tsp whole coriander
  • 8 whole cardamom pods
  • 2-4 whole cloves
  • Sugar to taste
  • Milk, condensed milk, or half and half to taste
  1. Step 1

    Heat the water in a sauce pan.

  2. Step 2

    Peel and slice the fresh ginger. Add to the water and simmer for about 2 minutes.

  3. Step 3

    Add the black tea. Let simmer for another 2 minutes.

  4. Step 4

    Crush the fennel, cardamom, and coriander in a mortar and pestle. Add to the water and let simmer for about 6 minutes.

  5. Step 5

    Crush the cloves and let simmer for another 2 minutes.

  6. Step 6

    Add sugar and milk to taste, and raise to the boiling point.

  7. Step 7

    Strain with a strainer or coffee filters (or paper towels in a pinch) and serve piping hot.

Tips & Warnings
  • This recipe is smoother than Starbucks, in which black pepper and cinnamon dominate.
  • The traditional recipes I've seen always include cardamom and cloves, but use different mixes of cinnamon (a 1-inch piece of cinnamon stick), ginger, fennel, and black pepper (3-4 peppercorns). Experiment to find your favorite combination, or vary the recipe to fit your mood.
  • Vanilla is fairly common in American renditions of chai, but I haven't seen it in traditional Indian recipes.
  • Iced chai is definitely an option! Just pour the strained tea over ice cubes, or cool the strained tea in the refrigerator. Do strain it, though -- leaving the chunks in for too long leads to a less pleasant flavor profile.
  • Chai and a good newspaper or book are a great way to launch a weekend day.
  • This is a sweet, wraps-you-up-and-hugs-you "comfort food" drink, but don't be fooled -- it's caffeinated. Avoid drinking it too late in the day if caffeine keeps you awake at night.

Comments  

chava812 said

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on 12/28/2008 Sounds delicious!

MaggieV said

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on 11/24/2007 I tried this yesterday and only had "ground" spices handy. I used them and it was just as good as the Indian restaurant version where I eat.

Maggie

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