Masala Chai

My source of comfort has always been a hot cup of masala chai. The milky foam with specks of tea leaves is mesmerizing as it bubbles away, filling the air with fragrant spices. Then there's the slight impatience of waiting for the first sip as the familiar clink of spoons sound off while the sugar is mixed into individual cups. Time slows down as one settles in with a cozy cup amongst friends and family.

My addiction to chai started with my dad's obsession - three cups a day to keep him going even in the unbearable Arizona heat. I'd watch him come alive in the early mornings as he peacefully enjoyed his first sips, slam down another cup after a solid afternoon nap, and yet another when that evening headache screamed for more caffeine.

Chai has always been a huge part of my life so this detailed recipe is well-tested and quite honestly, perfect. You're going to love it!

For some of us, making a mean cup of masala chai is a no-brainer. It's like we're on auto pilot as we make our perfect cup. Masala Chai tastes like a sweet milky cup of black tea that is complex yet balanced from the aromatic spices.

But maybe your in-laws asked you to make everyone chai and the pressure is on, or your parents never taught you how. Maybe you had an incredible cup at an Indian restaurant or a Chai Tea Latte at a local coffee shop and want to make your authentic chai!

Masala Chai, or chaa in other regions, is a milk tea simmered with spices and ginger and sweetened with sugar. While wild chai has been enjoyed by the Singpho in Assam, India since the 12th century (Source: The Hills Times), Masala Chai originated in India during British colonization and is now enjoyed throughout the diaspora. 

There's a saying that the food in India changes every 100km... but if there's one thing that ties all Indians together - it's chai. Chai by itself is essentially a milky cup of tea. And even then, there's different types of traditional Indian tea such as Kashmiri pink chai, adarak (ginger) chai, masala chai, etc. It's not to be confused with a Chai Latte, which is a rendition of the drink using a chai concentrate with frothy steamed milk.

It's enjoyed in the Indian subcontinent in the mornings, afternoon, and in the early evening for a burst of caffeine or some cozy relaxation. Chai is typically served with Parle-G biscuits or cake rusk. We do a quick dip to soak up the chai and eat it before it falls into the mug.

Chai is a way of life for us and a deep part of Indian culture. It's a quick cup when visiting someone, or spending time at the jewelers and clothing shop. It's symbol of hospitality while catching up with friends and family. It's stopping on the side of the road during a road trip to grab a cup for ~ energy ~.

Masala Chai's ingredients are really simple, but it's the spices that vary between each recipe. Almost every Indian family has their own blend which is made according to taste.

You can try several different ready made masala chai blends with the tea and aromatic spices already measured out, chai spice blends, or chai tea bags and the flavor profile will be wildly different depending on the tea blend.

A lot of this is due to regional variety and even classism when it comes to spices. For example, cardamom is one of the most expensive spices in the world trailing behind saffron and vanilla. Some families keep masala chai as simple as black pepper.

The point is, even if you don't have every spice you can still make the best cup of masala chai! Don't let that deter you.

The base of all desi masala chais usually include the following spices: green cardamom pods, black peppercorns, cinnamon sticks, whole cloves, and ginger. Other variations may include nutmeg, mace, fennel, rose, mint, lemongrass, tulsi, ajwain, saffron or star anise.

Some other recipes include allspice due to the notes of cinnamon, cloves, and nutmeg. Allspice isn't a blend of spices, but actually a berry. Either way, I'd stray away from using allspice if you're looking for an authentic Indian recipe.

Use whole spices where you can. Whether you put the spices directly in the chai, break them apart a bit in a mortar and pestle, or grind them into powdered chai masala using a spice grinder... using fresh crushed spices in small batches results in the best chai!

Grinding the spices will result in slightly stronger, pungent chai. The spices will be strained out at a later point.

Milk - The best milk for chai is undoubtedly whole milk. The use of whole milk is what creates that filmy layer on top of chai. The best vegan plant-based milk substitute for masala chai is oat milk or cashew cream.

Any of your favorite milks or creamers will work, but boiling the milk along with the tea leaves and spices is key for the creamy consistency.

Black tea - Search for Indian brands of black tea that use the CTC method. My favorite black tea leaves is Danedar, and for black tea bags I love Tetley British Blend. Taj Mahal and Wagh Bakri are other great options. They can readily be found online or in South Asian grocery stores. 

Otherwise, Assam and Darjeeling tea work best as alternatives, and English breakfast is a good runner up. I do not recommend earl grey. Some families even make their own blend of tea - my dad does a blend of loose leaf black and green tea.

Spices - The most common spices are cloves, black peppercorn, green cardamom, and Ceylon cinnamon. Other spices include tulsi, nutmeg, star anise, fennel, and mace but in very small quantities to prevent overpowering the chai which is why they may be included in chai spice, but not directly added to chai without being grinded and mixed with other spices.

Ginger - I like for the ginger to be subtle in my chai, so I'll use one or two thinly sliced pieces of ginger. If you want a stronger taste, grate or crush the ginger in a mortar and pestle.

Sweetener - Granulated sugar is the most typical sweetener, but brown sugar, stevia, honey, and even maple syrup will work. Sugar helps brings out the flavors you just developed in your Masala Chai by balancing out all the spices.

If you're using honey or maple syrup, stir it in while the chai is off heat but still hot. Sugar can be mixed in while making the chai or according to preference when serving.

There's a couple of ways to make a quick masala chai now - with masala chai tea bags, loose tea leaf blends, readymade ground chai spice blends, chai concentrates. But you lose a bit of control, flavor, and creaminess that way. The last way is using whole spices.

Most families make Masala Chai with whole spices. It has the best flavor, so this is the method we'll go over.

Crush the spices. Break up the spices using a mortar and pestle into smaller pieces.

Boil the water. Place a stainless steel or nonstick saucepan over high heat and add the water. Add a ¼ - ½ cup of water if your saucepan or pot has a large diameter to account for evaporation. As the water comes to a rolling boil, add the spices and ginger so they can begin to release their flavor. 

Once the water comes to a boil, add the tea leaves or tea bag. Reduce the heat to low to medium. Let the tea steep with the spices for 2 minutes, no longer to prevent bitter tea. Then, add your choice of milk.

Pro tip: Using a stainless steel small saucepan is best for making Masala Chai. Towards the end, you'll notice a bit of the milk may have burned or the tea leaves and spices are stuck to the side. This way, you can easily scrub off residue with a steel brush while washing dishes. 

Aerate the Chai. There's two main ways of aerating chai to develop flavor:

• One is the double boil, which is notorious for causing the biggest mess. Bring the chai to a boil on high heat. The level will rise until it's almost to the top, then quickly lift the pot off the heat until it comes back down or immediately lower the heat if you have a gas stove. This is the first boil. Repeat it for a double boil. Be sure to watch the chai closely otherwise you’ll have a spill on your hands. Another hack is to put a wooden spoon over the top of the pot so that once the tea hits the spoon, it won't boil over.
  
• The second way is to pull the chai which is used by chaiwallahs (chai vendors) in India. Use a small cup with a handle or ladle to scoop some chai and pour it back into the pot from a height to create bubbles. Repeat this a few times.

Simmer. Lower the heat and simmer for 5-7 minutes. Continue to simmer the chai until it's smooth and creamy, and the consistency and color that you want the tea. About a cup of liquid will have evaporated by this point, resulting in creamy chai without the spices overpowering it.

Pro Tip: If your chai doesn't have a lot of color or isn't strong enough, add some more tea leaves and continue to simmer until you're satisfied. Chai is very forgiving.

Strain and serve. Strain the tea with a sieve when pouring it into cups or a pot for serving. Spoon the sugar into the individual cups according to preference and mix until combined.

Or as we say "kitna cheeni? (how much sugar?) ek spoon ya do? (one spoon or two?)". Serve with Parle-G biscuits or cake rusk.

The way chai was served in the 1900s was rooted in classism. British tea drinkers used porcelain, upper class Indians used stainless steel, common folks used clay cups called kulhad, and others drank from saucers. Today, people in India still use kulhads or small glass cups, leaving space at the top for holding on to so their fingers aren't burned.

Indians were given mandatory tea breaks as part of a marketing campaign. Chaiwallahs popped up around India. Inspired by Ayurvedic practices, they began adding milk and spices to tea. It also masked low quality tea and enticed customers with special spice blends. (Source: From an Imperial Product to a National Drink: The Culture of Tea Consumption in Modern India)

The British thought the addition of spices were an abomination to the tea they spent decades developing. They tried to squash stalls that strayed away from standard practice, believing that the use of spices meant less tea leaves were necessary. Marketing campaigns for tea continued even until independence in 1947.

Obviously, that didn't work since masala chai still exists today thanks to the rebellious chaiwallahs that stuck to it.

Masala Chai pairs well with Paneer Aloo Samosas, Peanut Chaat, Samosa Chaat, and Indian-Style Tea Sandwiches.

And if you love chai, try Chai Syrup, Chai Concentrate, Chai Spice, Masala Chai Canelés, Chai Liqueur, Adrak Chai, and Chai White Russian.