Masala Tea

Here’s a comforting masala chai (spiced tea) recipe, a popular beverage in Bharat. This version adds warmth with its blend of spices, making it a beloved drink on a rainy day or in cooler weather. Tea is usually enjoyed with light snacks like hot batata vada, samosas, bhaji, or pakoras.

Ingredients for 2 cups:

• 1 cup water
• 1-1.25 cup milk
• 1-1.5 tsp tea powder (or as per taste)
• 1 small piece of ginger, grated or 0.5 tsp dried ginger powder (Sunth powder)
• 2 cloves
• 1 small cinnamon stick
• 2 black peppercorns, crushed
• 1 bay leaf (optional)
• 2 crushed cardamom pods (optional)
• 1/4th of a nutmeg, crushed (optional)
• 2 tsp sugar or coconut palm sugar (adjust to taste)

Method:

1. Boil water in a saucepan.
2. Add crushed ginger and spices (bay leaf, cinnamon, cloves, black pepper) to the water and let it simmer for 2-3 minutes to release their flavors.
3. Add the tea powder and let it brew for another minute.
4. Pour in the milk and bring the mixture to a boil.
5. Keep stirring the mixture.
6. Add sugar, cardamom, and nutmeg powder.
7. Let the tea simmer for 1 more minute for all the flavours to combine well.
8. Strain the tea into cups and enjoy your flavourful Masala Tea!

Tea Masala:

• To make masala powder (spice mix for tea), you need to blend the right combination of spices that can be stored and used when preparing tea.
• Here’s a video for your reference: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=36grM4gYzrc
• Please note that dried ginger powder (Sunth powder) should not be roasted.
• After roasting the whole spices, allow them to cool down completely before grinding them in the mixer.
• Once the mixture of water, milk, and tea powder is hot and starts to simmer, you can add the tea masala mix. Stir the masala spices into the simmering tea, allowing the flavours to infuse well as the tea continues to boil.
• This masala powder can be stored for several days, allowing you to quickly prepare masala tea whenever you like.

Notes:

• when using oat milk, I prefer a higher milk-to-water ratio to achieve a creamier consistency.
• when I drink chai after having snacks, I prefer a lower milk-to-water ratio. This adjustment allows the spices and flavours of the tea to shine through prominently, complementing the snacks I’ve enjoyed.
• Tea strainers are generally easy to find, but here’s a link for anyone buying one for the first time. https://groceries.morrisons.com/products/morrisons-tea-strainer/110580851?