Chai’ in India basically means tea and ‘Masala’ means a blend of spices. Therefore, Masala Chai simply means spiced tea. Traditionally, Chai is made by brewing tea with a mixture of aromatic Indian spices and herbs. There is no fixed recipe or preparation method for Masala Chai and many families have their own versions of the tea. The most common spices and herbs used include cardamom, cinnamon, ginger, cloves, and pepper.
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A Few Ways to Make Chai:
• For straight up, use 1.5 tsp/ 8oz cup. Steep 5-7 minutes in 212 °F water
• For traditional quick and easy, steep 2 tsp in a mixture of ½ cup boiling water and ½ cup hot milk for 5-7 minutes.
• For authentic style, simmer 2 tsp of Chai with 3/4 cup water on stove top for 5 minutes. Slowly add ½ cup milk and boil for another 2 minutes. Strain before drinking.
To sweeten, add sugar, honey, or condensed milk as desired. For delicious iced chai, use double amount of tea and steep normally. Pour over ice to drink immediately.
