Masala Chai, also known as Masala Tea, is a popular Indian beverage made by brewing black tea with a blend of fragrant spices (like cardamom, cloves, cinnamon), milk, sugar, and water. This spiced tea is comforting, bold, and full of flavor – perfect for breakfast or your evening tea break. Ready in just 10 minutes, this homemade version is both warming and refreshing.
About Masala Chai Recipe
The Hindi word masala means “spices” and chai means “tea.” So, Masala Chai simply translates to a brewed tea infused with a blend of spices, sugar, and milk.
It’s made using staple ingredients found in almost every Indian kitchen – black tea powder, water, milk, sugar, and a mix of aromatic spices and herbs.
If there’s one beverage that truly unites India, it has to be Masala Chai. While chai on its own is a daily ritual for many, the spiced version holds a special place in our hearts.
Masala Chai is more than just tea – it’s a deeply comforting drink that reflects the flavors of home. The choice of spices can be customized according to family preferences, and many households have their own unique version.
Many Indians not only love tea but are also in the habit of adding various herbs and spices to their daily brews. These additions vary from region to region and kitchen to kitchen.
It’s fair to say that most Indians can’t imagine starting their day without a cup of Masala Chai. The same holds true for the evening, when chai becomes a cherished part of our daily routine.
As mentioned earlier, Masala Chai is made by brewing tea leaves in water with spices and sugar, followed by the addition of milk.
These days, for health-conscious drinkers, there are lighter versions without milk – a clearer spiced tea that’s still full of flavor.
Depending on your taste and health preferences, the quantity and type of spices can always be adjusted; or even omitted.
Spices & Herbs To Flavor Your Chai
- Cinnamon – Known for its fragrant, warm, woody aroma, cinnamon also has antibacterial, antifungal, and antioxidant properties.
- Cloves – Impart a mild, sweet-pungent taste to the tea. Cloves are high in antioxidants and also offer antimicrobial benefits.
- Green Cardamom – Infuses a lovely sweet fragrance. You can crush the whole green pods or use ground cardamom powder. Cardamom aids digestion and also acts as a natural mouth and breath freshener.
- Ginger – A warming and pungent herb that can be added crushed or grated. Ginger helps relieve morning sickness and nausea, and is antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, and good for digestion.
- More Herbs – You can also include herbs like mint leaves, lemongrass, and spices such as nutmeg, fennel seeds, black pepper, and long pepper in your chai recipe. Ayurvedic herbs like Ashwagandha and Mulethi (licorice root) are also wonderful additions.
I have also shared a detailed post on Herbal Tea featuring more information about various spices and herbs commonly used in Indian teas.
Which Tea To Use
In Indian homes, the type of tea that is used to make our everyday chai is black tea that comes in granular form. There are two kinds that are used – Tea Dust and CTC. Both are referred to as tea powder here.
CTR refers to Crush, Tear and Curl. The tea leaves are crushed, torn and curled using cylindrical rollers at various stages. This processed tea has a granular texture or can be in the form of pellets and is called CTC or Mamri tea.
A stronger tea variety like Assam tea is the most preferred CTC tea to make this drink. But some folks also prefer a lighter and milder tea like the Darjeeling tea.
There are premade mixes of both Assam and Darjeeling tea or Assam and Nilgiri available that can be used.
We always make our chai with Assam tea powder as the robust and bold spices harmonize with the intense flavors of this tea.
You can also opt to use tea leaves or tea bags. If using tea leaves then steep them in the water for 2 to 4 minutes to get the desired flavor in the brew.
In India, we can easily buy the tea powder in any grocery store. If you live outside India, then buy Assam tea powder or tea leaves or tea bags from any Indian grocery store or online. Preferably try to buy organic tea powder or leaves.
On this post, I have shared a recipe that shows how to make Masala Chai recipe without using the premade Masala Tea Powder.
How to make masala chai with premade spice mix
When using the Masala Tea Powder, you simply need to add it to the water and boil for some minutes. Later brew the tea, add sugar and milk.
For 4 cups of chai, you could add about ½ to 1 teaspoon or less, more according to your taste preferences.
If you enjoy spiced teas, you might also like this classic robust Ginger Tea and delicately flavored Mint Tea.
Step-by-Step Guide
How to make Masala Chai
Here is my everyday version of Masala Chai recipe, feel free to adapt it to your taste!
This Masala Chai recipe serves 2 to 3. It can be easily halved, doubled or tripled by simply adjusting the amount of ingredients.
Serve Masala tea steaming hot on its own or with Indian snacks such Onion Pakoda, Samosa, Aloo Tikki, sandwiches, rusk, khari biscuit, nankhatai or cookies.
Crush The Spices
1. Add 1 inch cinnamon, 2 to 3 green cardamoms, 2 cloves and 1-inch peeled ginger to a mortar-pestle. Use true cinnamon and not cassia cinnamon.
2. Crush coarsely with the pestle and set aside. But make sure that the ginger is flattened and crushed well.
Alternatively choose to grate the ginger and add the spices whole or crushed.
Simmer Spices
3. Using a saucepan or small pan with a handle, heat 2 cups of water (500 ml).
Let the water come to a boil and add the crushed spices. If required, add a generous pinch of nutmeg powder to the spices.
Either mint leaves or lemongrass can also be added at this step.
4. Boil for 2 to 3 minutes. Add sugar to taste. I usually add 4 teaspoons of raw sugar. Some people prefer a very sweet tea.
So you can increase the amount of sugar according to your taste preferences and also on the type and quality of sugar you are using.
Brew Black Tea
5. Now add 2 teaspoons of Assam tea powder or tea dust. Boil for 1 minute. This boiling time depends on how strong you want your tea.
If you prefer a deeper and stronger brew, then simmer for a few more minutes. But this can make the tea have some bitter notes.
Note that if you use tea leaves then instead of boiling you have to steep the tea. For steeping boil the water together with spices. Switch off the heat. Add the tea leaves. Stir to mix and cover with lid.
Steep the tea for 2 to 4 minutes depend upon the strength and concentration of the tea you prefer. Then add hot milk to the steeped tea. Mix, strain and serve.
Make Masala Chai
6. Add ¼ cup of milk (at room temperature or cold). You may add more milk if required.
For a vegan chai, soy or almond milk or cashew milk may also be used. If using soy milk, add to the tea mixture and simmer for 2 to 3 minutes.
If using almond milk or cashew milk or oats milk, then heat separately in another small saucepan. Add to the tea and switch off the heat. Stir to mix.
Do not let the almond or cashew milk come to a boil otherwise, the tea will have a grainy texture.
7. After adding milk boil for 2 to 3 minutes. If using chilled milk, boil for 2 to 3 minutes. If using hot milk, then add the milk and switch off the heat.
8. Pour the masala tea through a tea strainer directly into a cup.
9. Enjoy Masala Chai on its own or serve it steaming hot with your favorite Indian snacks like potato pakora, cutlet, samosa, aloo tikki, onion pakoda, or bread pakora.
You can also enjoy this robust, spiced chai with your favorite cookies or biscuits, or pair it with light tea sandwiches for a comforting snack.
Expert Tips
- Milk: The amount of milk added varies from person to person. So you can add milk as per your preference.
- Tea brand: The brand of tea also makes a difference to the overall flavor. I always use Assam tea as it is stronger than Darjeeling tea. But I do know some folks who prefer a mix of Assam + Darjeeling tea or only Darjeeling tea. What I have used here is organic Assam tea which is not the same as tea leaves, but in granules. You may use either one.
- Spices: You may adjust the quantity of spices as required. I would suggest reducing the quantity of spice in the summertime as spices increase body heat and sweating. Increasing the quantity of spice may help to keep the body warm during winter or also when you have cold.
- Making tea: The classic way of making tea is to steep the tea leaves in hot water. The Indian method is boiling the tea leaves for some minutes. I usually add milk later. Though in some families, water, milk and tea leaves are boiled together.
- Strong tea: This recipe is a strong tea due to the taste and aroma of Assam tea along with the flavor of the spices. Adjust the amount of ginger to suit your taste.
FAQs
It has the flavor and taste of the black tea in tandem with the milk, sugar and the spices or herbs used. The overall taste is determined by the kind and amount of spices and herbs added. It has a fragrant, spiced, astringent and a strong flavor.
Although this Chai is traditionally brewed with milk, some people drink it without milk. It is just another taste. So yes you can. If you do plan to skip on the milk, then I recommend making this chai with Darjeeling tea leaves.
Together with the ground chai masala powder, you will need to add milk powder, powdered sugar and tea powder in the premix.
Some testing and experimentation will be needed to gauge the flavors of the chai premix that you make. You can check the labels of some brands that sell premix powder for more ideas.
Either option works. I usually crush the pods and add the crushed seeds as well as the green husks. The cardamom husks also has a lot of flavor in it. So I add it to my tea.
More Tea Recipes To Try!
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Masala Chai Recipe (Indian Spiced Tea)
Masala Chai, or Indian Masala Tea, is a fragrant black tea brewed with spices like cardamom, ginger, cinnamon, cloves, and sometimes herbs like tulsi or lemongrass. It is sweetened with sugar and finished with a touch of milk. A beloved drink across India, perfect for breakfast time or with evening snacks.
Prep Time 1 minute
Cook Time 9 minutes
Total Time 10 minutes
Prevent your screen from going dark while making the recipe
Take cinnamon, green cardamoms, cloves and peeled ginger in a mortar-pestle.
Crush coarsely and set aside.
In a sauce pan or a small pan with a handle, heat water.
Let the water come to a boil and then add the crushed spices.
Boil the spices along with the water for 2 to 3 minutes.
Add sugar as per taste. I usually add 4 teaspoons of raw sugar. You can add more or less.
Now add 2 teaspoons of assam tea powder. Boil for a minute. This boiling time depends on how strong you want your tea. If you prefer a strong intense tea, then boil for a few more minutes.
Add milk. After adding milk boil for 2 to 3 minutes.
If using chilled milk, then boil with tea for 2 to 3 minutes. If using hot milk, then add the milk and switch off the heat.
Pour the tea through a tea strainer directly in the cup.
Serve Masala Chai hot with some Indian snacks or cookies or biscuits.
- Choose to skip adding any spice depending on your taste preferences and health needs.
- Preferably use black tea like CTC Assam tea powder or Assam tea leaves. If its organic its better.
- For vegan chai, add soy milk, cashew milk, oats milk or almond milk. If using cashew milk or almond milk or oats milk, then heat separately and add it to the hot tea brew. With soy milk you can boil it with the brew for a few minutes.
- For making masala chai with tea leaves you need to steep the leaves instead of boiling in water. First boil the water together with spices. Then switch off the heat and add the tea leaves. Mix with a spoon and cover pan with lid. Let the tea leaves steep for 2 to 4 minutes depend upon the strength and flavor you prefer. Later add hot milk to the steeped tea. Mix, strain and serve.
Nutrition Facts
Masala Chai Recipe (Indian Spiced Tea)
Amount Per Serving
Calories 59 Calories from Fat 9
% Daily Value*
Fat 1g2%
Saturated Fat 1g6%
Polyunsaturated Fat 1g
Monounsaturated Fat 1g
Cholesterol 3mg1%
Sodium 26mg1%
Potassium 75mg2%
Carbohydrates 12g4%
Fiber 1g4%
Sugar 10g11%
Protein 1g2%
Vitamin A 51IU1%
Vitamin B1 (Thiamine) 1mg67%
Vitamin B2 (Riboflavin) 1mg59%
Vitamin B3 (Niacin) 1mg5%
Vitamin B6 1mg50%
Vitamin B12 1µg17%
Vitamin C 1mg1%
Vitamin D 1µg7%
Vitamin E 1mg7%
Vitamin K 1µg1%
Calcium 57mg6%
Vitamin B9 (Folate) 2µg1%
Iron 1mg6%
Magnesium 12mg3%
Phosphorus 30mg3%
Zinc 1mg7%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.
Masala Chai recipe from the archives was first published on June 2016.
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