I have never been to India so I cannot tell you exactly what an authentic masala chai should taste like. However, I have tried enough right here in SA to know exactly how I like it. The reason I have never been or don’t know if I ever will go to India is because I am terribly claustrophobic. My hubby has been to India a few times and he absolutely loves it. Me, I am not so sure I will survive that long flight to India. The furthest I have been is Mauritius. Although I did well on that flight it would take some convincing to get me on a long flight. However, I’ve had loads of firsts of late so you never know what could happen next…haha!
What is Masala Chai?
It is a popular tea in India, with a blend of whole spices and milk. You can add your favorite teabags or loose tea leaves to it and use milk only or add some water. I think it definitely needs some sugar and that can be adjusted accordingly
What spices go into a Masala Chai?
Everybody’s preference is different. It is all about customizing the tea to your taste. You can add cinnamon, star aniseed, cloves, cardamom, ginger, nutmeg, black peppercorns. I personally prefer a stronger cinnamon taste so I prefer more cinnamon. You can play around with the different spices until you get to a flavor that suits your taste.
How to make Masala Chai
I crush my spices a little, add it to a pot with a cup of water and allow it to gently simmer. This is where all the flavors infuse. Whilst simmering I add my tea into the pot with my milk and allow it to come to a gentle boil. I then add sugar, strain and serve What I do as an extra is also roast and grind more spices separately. When I serve my tea I froth some milk and sprinkle more of the spice on top. It is absolutely heavenly, I could drink this Masala Chai all day. The spice that I make is a very small quantity which can last for a few cups of tea. However, you can double the recipe and store it in an airtight container.
More Drinks you can try: Mango Lassi Recipe Turmeric Golden Milk If you loved this, please share!
