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Spicy and soothing, this masala tea is perfect for the colder months, and as a digestive aid after a heavy meal.
Masala tea is popular in India for breakfast, during monsoon or in cooler weather. Made with black tea leaves, it is deliciously spiced and aromatic, milky and sweet.
Most homes in India have their own recipe, but generally tea leaves are brewed with spices, milk and sugar. This recipe makes my favourite masala tea.
Any black tea leaves will work, but I prefer to use Assam.
Ginger and cardamom both aid digestion which makes this a particularly pleasant tea after a rich or heavy meal. They are also effective decongestants and are particularly soothing for a sore throat or bad cold. They also help with detoxing, and alleviate nausea, so there are many reasons to make this delicious tea!
Start by adding the ginger and cardamom to the water, then bring it to a boil to release the wonderful flavours. Add the tea and simmer till the colour of the water darkens, then pour in the milk. (Do use whole milk, it makes such a difference!) Once the milk comes to a boil, as it starts to rise, lower the heat and stir in the sugar. Strain and serve.
Masala tea tastes even better with a froth on top, so pour it out from a manageable height to form the bubbles. Enjoy!
Masala tea
Ingredients
- 1 1/2 cups water
- 2 teaspoons tea leaves use a black tea like Assam
- 1 cup whole milk
- 1 inch ginger, crushed
- 2 pods cardamom, crushed
- 2 teaspoons sugar adjust to taste
Instructions
- In a small saucepan, bring the water to a boil with the ginger and crushed cardamom. Add the tea leaves and simmer for a minute. When the water has darkened, pour in the milk bring to a boil again. As the milk starts to boil, turn heat down to medium/low and add the sugar. Using a strainer, pour the tea into a cup/glass and serve straight away.
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Tea is my liquid hug…Love this style of making tea. And a special thanks for explaining these ingredients.
Thank you!
There is nothing better than having some good tea in life. Thanks for sharing!
I used to work at a Mediterranean restaurant that served cardamom tea and it was always a favorite. Love the addition of ginger!
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,
This warming tea looks so lovely! Those are some of my favorite flavors, LOVE the cardamom in there.
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 🙂
This sounds absolutely delicious. The warming spice, the creaminess, oh my, so good!
What a lovely warming drink, perfect to cosy up with in the afternoon!
I love that something so creamy and delicious is also healthy! What a lovely cup!
This sounds soooo cozy and delicious!
I need to get some cardamom pods! Would ground cardamom work as well?
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.
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!
Thanks, it is an excellent digestive aid! 🙂 Let me know how you like it.
This looks and sounds perfect! Love the sweetness of these masala spices!
I’m sure you will love it – perfect for this time of year too!
Sounds like a soothing delicious drink. Pinned!
Thanks, yes and a great pick-me-up!