Masala Chai – Homemade Indian Spiced Tea

Enjoy a rich, aromatic cup of homemade Masala Chai infused with cardamom, cinnamon, cloves, black pepper, fennel, nutmeg, and fresh ginger. Simmering the spices releases their warm flavors, while milk and sugar create a comforting, creamy Indian tea.

Prep time: 5 minutes

Cook time: 15 minutes

Servings: 2 cups

Ingredients

• 3 green cardamom pods

• 4 black peppercorns

• ⅛ teaspoon fennel seeds

• 1 small piece of cinnamon

• 2 cloves

• ¼ teaspoon ground nutmeg

• 1 small piece of fresh ginger, crushed or grated

• 2 teaspoons black tea leaves

• 1¼ cups milk

• 1¼ cups water

• Sugar, to taste

Instructions

Add the cardamom pods, peppercorns, fennel seeds, cinnamon, cloves, nutmeg, and fresh ginger to a mortar. Crush coarsely with a pestle to release their natural aromas. Avoid grinding them into a fine powder.

Bring 1¼ cups of water to a rolling boil in a saucepan. Add the crushed spices and ginger. Reduce the heat slightly and simmer for 5 minutes to develop a fragrant, flavorful spice infusion.

Add the black tea leaves and simmer for another 3–5 minutes, depending on how strong you prefer your chai. Avoid boiling the tea leaves too vigorously, as this can make the tea bitter.

Pour in the milk and add sugar to taste. Bring the mixture to a gentle rolling boil, watching carefully to prevent it from overflowing. Lower the heat and simmer for another 3–5 minutes, stirring occasionally.

Remove the saucepan from the heat. Strain the chai into cups using a fine-mesh strainer. Serve hot with biscuits, rusk, or your favorite savory snack.