This recipe for masala tea makes a wonderfully aromatic, sweet and spicy, soothing brew with just a few spices.
Masala tea is a spiced, aromatic tea enjoyed in the Indian subcontinent.
Perfect on a cold day, as a digestive aid after a heavy meal or to soothe a sore throat, we look for any excuse to enjoy a comforting cup of masala chai!
It is prepared by brewing tea leaves with spices, milk and sugar. The type of spices used varies according to the individuals taste and can involve a long list.
Our masala tea recipe is easy to make and uses just a few spices: cinnamon, star anise, cardamom, ginger and black pepper.
It is made by brewing black tea with spices, adding milk, then left to simmer for a while before adding sugar.
The ingredients come together to give a rich complex fusion of flavours, creating a deeply comforting drink that is moderately astringent, spicy and sweet.
Masala tea is best enjoyed sweetened, feel free to adjust the amount of sugar to your taste.
Masala tea goes well with barfi sweets, almond orange cake or this creamy firni.
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Ingredient tips
- Use black tea leaves such as Assam.
- If using tea bags use unbleached tea bags so any unpleasant chemicals don’t leach into the water as it boils.
Instruction tips
- Start by adding the spice ingredients to the water, then bring to a boil to release the wonderful flavours.
- Add the tea leaves and simmer till the colour of the water darkens, then add the milk. You can use any milk, whole milk is best for a creamy richer tea.
- Once the milk comes to a boil it will start to rise, lower the heat to continue cooking the milk a bit longer and stir in the sugar.
- Strain and serve.
Variations
If you want a spicer tea you could add any or all of these :
- ¼ inch cinnamon stick
- 3 whole cloves
- ¼ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
- ½ star anise
- 2 green cardamoms
They will need to be strained out before serving.
Tip
Masala tea tastes even better with a froth on top, so try pouring from a manageable height to form the bubbles.
Enjoy!
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Recipe
Masala Tea
Ingredients
- water - 1½ cups 350 ml
- tea leaves - use a black tea like Assam 2 teaspoons
- fresh ginger - grated or minced 1 inch
- green cardamom - whole 2 pods
- star anise ½ whole
- black pepper ¼ teaspoon
- cinnamon - or ¼ teaspoon ground ¼ inch
- whole milk - ½ cup 120 ml
- sugar - adjust to taste 2 teaspoons
Instructions
- In a small saucepan, bring 350 ml water to a boil with 1 inch fresh ginger, ½ whole star anise, ¼ teaspoon black pepper and 2 pods green cardamom, turn down the heat and simmer for 3 minutes.
- Add 2 teaspoons tea leaves and simmer for two minutes.
- Once the tea has darkened, pour in 120 ml whole milk and bring to a boil again.
- As the milk starts to boil, turn heat down to medium-low, add 2 teaspoons sugarand simmer for another minute then remove from the heat.
- To create a frothy layer on the tea (optional), pour from the pan to a similar size pan or large measuring cup from a height without spilling it. Then pour it back again and repeat till a foam appears on the surface of the tea. Strain away the whole spices and serve in cups.
Notes
-
- Use black tea leaves such as Assam
- If using tea bags use unbleached tea bags so any unpleasant chemicals don’t leach into the water as it boils.
Only you will see your notes and you can edit them anytime.
Nutrition
Nutritional information is calculated automatically per serving and accuracy cannot be guaranteed.
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Viniscookbook says
Tea is my liquid hug…Love this style of making tea. And a special thanks for explaining these ingredients.
Nicole says
Thank you!
Carrie Forrest says
There is nothing better than having some good tea in life. Thanks for sharing!
Corrine says
I used to work at a Mediterranean restaurant that served cardamom tea and it was always a favorite. Love the addition of ginger!
Katie Mae @ Nourishing Simplicity says
I love how soothing and simple this tea seems to be! It reminds of a tea that my co-worker always talks about making for her family in the evening,
Emily @ Recipes to Nourish says
This warming tea looks so lovely! Those are some of my favorite flavors, LOVE the cardamom in there.
Hope says
This looks like a lovely cup of tea. I have never been to India but have enjoyed Masala tea at Indian tea shops in Malaysia. I love the sweetness and flavours this tea has 🙂
Judy Purcell says
This sounds absolutely delicious. The warming spice, the creaminess, oh my, so good!
Monique says
What a lovely warming drink, perfect to cosy up with in the afternoon!
Megan Stevens says
I love that something so creamy and delicious is also healthy! What a lovely cup!
Jean says
This sounds soooo cozy and delicious!
Joni Gomes says
I need to get some cardamom pods! Would ground cardamom work as well?
Nicole says
Joni, if you can find cardamom pods, they would work so much better. You could crush the pods to get the seeds and grind those, but the method in the recipe is far easier. Cardamom is one of those spices that lose much of its aroma and flavour after grinding, as it dries up. If you have a jar of cardamom powder, the amount to use would depend on how much flavour the powder has, depending on how old it is/how it is stored. I hope that helps.
Renee Kohley says
This is so lovely – I love the history behind the ingredients – thank you for explaining how it works. I would love to serve this after our big Thanksgiving meal next week!
Nicole says
Thanks, it is an excellent digestive aid! 🙂 Let me know how you like it.
Lindsey Dietz says
This looks and sounds perfect! Love the sweetness of these masala spices!
Nicole says
I’m sure you will love it – perfect for this time of year too!
linda spiker says
Sounds like a soothing delicious drink. Pinned!
Nicole says
Thanks, yes and a great pick-me-up!