Masala chai

You should definitely try to make this spicy and creamy tea yourself. I am a real fan of the drink. Open up your spice cabinet and the aroma of masala chai will transport you to colorful India in seconds.

Is it masala chai or chai masala?

Chai means "tea" and masala means "spices." When you speak of chai masala you are talking about the spice mixture that goes into the tea. When you speak of masala chai you are talking about the spicy tea itself.

So you order a masala chai at the tea stand and you typically drink it from a bhar. This traditional and eco-friendly clay cup has fallen out of use in most parts of India, except for Kolkata. The single use cup is thrown away on the street. A waste, you might think! I agree, so I bring mine home.

What belongs and does not belong in masala chai?

To make chai masala you always use green cardamom, cloves, ginger and cinnamon. For spicier results, you can add pepper. You can also use fennel seeds, saffron or star anise. What you should never add is turmeric or cumin. Those spices are too strong in flavor.

In addition to your masala and your tea leaves, add sugar. In India, they like sweet, very spicy tea. You can't separate the sweet and the spicy because they bring the tea into balance.

The rule of thumb is: make your masala tea according to the major guidelines but let yourself be guided by what you like best.

Is there a special technique needed to make masala chai?

Absolutely! You first make your chai masala, then the tea itself in two steps. Finally, you pour the tea repeatedly with a pitcher or large ladle from a certain height. That's the way chai vendors do it in India. And no, this is not to impress bystanders. The act simply ensures a nice layer of foam and the right temperature so that you can immediately enjoy your masala chai.

When to drink masala chai?

All day long! Just be careful when you drink masala chai in the evening because the theine in black tea is like the caffeine in coffee. It gives you a rush but it can also prevent you from sleeping.

Are you in the mood for a masala chai? Here is my recipe!

You can buy store-bought ready-made chai masala but then you don't know what's in it. I prefer to make my own masala.

For the chai masala:

10 pods green cardamom
8 cloves
1 stick cinnamon
2 teaspoons ground ginger
1 star anise
1 teaspoon fennel seeds

For the masala chai: 3 to 4 cups

250 ml water
2 teaspoons chai masala
1 tablespoon black tea leaves
250 ml milk
4 teaspoons sugar

Making chai masala

Add all your spices to a mortar. Then pound them together to make a fine powder. You can also make the powder with a spice grinder.

Store the spice mixture in a glass jar and seal it tightly with a lid.
Step 1: make the tea

First bring the water to a boil. Add the chai masala and simmer for 2 minutes. Now add the black tea and finally ou let it steep for 5 minutes on low heat.
Step 2: the milk

You have the base of your herbal tea, so now add the milk. Bring the mixture to a boil. Be careful that the chai does not boil over! Now reduce the heat and simmer gently for another 5 minutes. Stir in the sugar and finally pour the masala chai through a fine sieve into cups. Serve hot.

Feeling boosted after this chai? Then I'd love to teach you how to make sambar now!

Sambar