Masala Chai

Here’s a simple recipe for making Masala Chai, a spiced Indian tea:

Ingredients:

• 2 cups water
• 2 cups milk
• 2-3 teaspoons loose black tea leaves or 2-3 tea bags
• 2-3 tablespoons sugar (adjust to taste)
• 1 inch piece of fresh ginger, grated
• 3-4 green cardamom pods, crushed
• 2-3 whole cloves
• 1-2 cinnamon sticks
• 1-2 black peppercorns (optional)
• A pinch of fennel seeds (optional)

Begin by preparing the spices. Crush the cardamom pods, and if you’re using whole spices, lightly crush the cloves and cinnamon sticks. You can also include black peppercorns and fennel seeds for an extra layer of flavor.

In a saucepan, combine 2 cups of water with the crushed spices and grated ginger. Bring the mixture to a boil and let it simmer for a couple of minutes, allowing the water to absorb the essence of the spices.

Add the black tea leaves or tea bags to the pot. Simmer for an additional 2-3 minutes, adjusting the quantity of tea leaves to achieve your desired strength.

Pour in 2 cups of milk and add sugar to the pot. Adjust the sugar according to your taste preferences. Allow the chai to gently boil, stirring occasionally to prevent the milk from overflowing.

Once the flavors have melded together and the chai has boiled, strain the tea into cups using a fine mesh strainer or tea strainer.

Serve the Masala Chai hot. You can enjoy it on its own or pair it with your favorite snacks for a delightful experience.

Feel free to experiment with optional variations, such as adjusting spice quantities or incorporating other spices like nutmeg or star anise. You can also explore different types of tea leaves for diverse and unique flavor profiles.

Now, savor and enjoy your homemade Masala Chai!