Chai Masala Powder

Name: Chai Masala Powder
Prep time: 2 min
Total time: 2 min
Ingredients: 3 tablespoons green cardamom ((chhoti elaichi)); 3 inch cinnamon (casia bark) ((dal cheeni)); 2 tablespoon cloves ((laung)); 2 tablespoons black peppercorns ((kali mirch)); 1 tablespoon fennel seeds ((saunf)); 1 tablespoon ground ginger ((sonth/sookhi adrak)); ½ nutmeg (lightly crushed)

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This aromatic and flavorful Chai Masala Powder is an easy way to spice up your Indian tea. Made with cardamom, cloves, cinnamon, peppercorns, nutmeg, ginger and fennel, this quick 2-minute recipe will give you fresh, homemade ground spice blend that will surely become a new tea favorite.

Enjoying tea is a tradition and ritual around the world. Chai is an important part of Indian street culture as well as a staple within households.

Chai means tea in Hindi and this spiced black tea with milk is the most popular Indian tea that's enjoyed worldwide.

In my home, hubby and my morning ritual always include a hot cup of Indian Ginger Tea, which wakes us up with its invigorating and smooth taste. In the evenings, we enjoy a cup of hubby's favorite, spicy and aromatic Indian Masala Chai, which can be made with this fresh Chai Masala Powder.

I make this spice blend every 3-4 months, store it and tuck it away in my spice cabinet, and it stays fresh throughout. It's an easy recipe that doesn't require any roasting or special preparation of the spices. Simply blitz them in a grinder and you're done. Let's get started!

What is Chai Masala Powder?

Chai masala powder is a blend of warm, aromatic Indian spices that are ground together. Typically it includes cardamom, cloves, cinnamon, peppercorns, nutmeg, ginger, and fennel.

This powder is added to the simmering water, which creates a rich flavor and also adds health benefits from the spices. This is the first step to making Indian Masala Chai.

Why Make Homemade Chai Masala Powder?

Easy to customize: When making it at home, it is easy for me to adjust the quantity and ratio of individual ingredients and customize it to our personal preference.
Stays Fresh: Did you know that ground spices lose flavor and potency the longer they sit on the shelf? That's why making homemade recipes from whole ingredients can make all the difference in flavor impact.
More flavorful: This Chai Masala Powder recipe is much more aromatic and flavorful than any store bought variety you will find. Additionally, the freshly ground chai masala will stay good for 3-4 months!

Keep in mind that this spice blend is stronger in aroma and taste when it's freshly ground, but it mellows down as it sits longer. That's true with most other freshly ground spice blends too!

Ingredients - Notes & Substitutions

We'll use seven key spices for making this aromatic blend. Let's understand what they taste like and their possible substitutions:

Labeled Whole Indian spices in small bowls on a metal tray — Ingredients for making Chai Masala Powder

Green Cardamom: Cardamom has a unique piney-fruity taste that is an important flavor in masala chai. I like to use the whole pod. If using only the seeds, reduce the quantity to 2 tablespoons.
Cinnamon: We're using the 'Cassia Bark' variety here for it's woody-sweetness. It is milder than the cinnamon quills (or sticks). If using those instead, use half the suggested quantity.
Cloves: Cloves are actually flower buds from the clove tree and you can buy them in ground and whole forms. If using ground cloves instead, use ⅛ teaspoon for this quantity.
Black Peppercorns: Whole Black peppercorns add a unique flavor to this recipe. I wouldn't recommend substituting with white or rainbow peppers. Ground pepper is not ideal, but if using that, reduce the quantity in half.
Fennel Seeds: Fennel seeds potentially have anti-inflammatory, antibacterial and antioxidant properties, and add a sweet-citrusy flavor. These are hard to replace. If you can't find them, skip them altogether.
Ground Dry Ginger: Ginger is a superfood that contains many nutrients with incredible benefits for your entire body. Dry ginger has a more pungent flavor as compared to fresh. It's called 'Sonth' in Hindi. If you can't find it, use 2 teaspoons of freshly grated ginger instead.
Nutmeg: Nutmeg is the seed of a tropical evergreen tree. Use the fresh seed whenever possible. If using ground nutmeg, add ⅛ teaspoon for this quantity.

How to Make Chai Masala Powder

This simple recipe will allow you to make Chai Masala Powder in just a few minutes!

Step 1: Pour the whole spices on a large plate. Quickly sort through them and discard any small stones or dirt.

Step 2: Add the whole spices to a spice grinder (or a coffee grinder).

Spice Grinder: If you don't have one, I highly recommend investing in a spice grinder. It is small in size, can be stored away and isn't that expensive. The flavor and aroma of freshly ground spices make it totally worth it. This is the spice grinder I use regularly.

Step 3: Grind the spices to a fine powder. Shake the grinder 2-3 times in between, or tap it with your hand, to prevent the spices from clumping.

Step 4: Store in an air-tight container in a cool dark place for up to 3-4 months.

Serving Suggestions

Try out this Chai Masala Powder in a nice cup of Masala Chai for your morning pick me up! I typically add ¼ teaspoon of chai masala powder per cup.

But if you're trying it for the first time, I recommend starting with ⅛ teaspoon per cup, tasting the chai, then adding the remaining as desired, and simmering the tea for 30 seconds.

Masala Chai is also perfect for afternoon tea with friends or family. Add some Almond Flour Banana Muffins or Oatmeal Cookies for a snack and balance out the nice spice flavor in the tea.

Recipe Tips & Notes

Serving Size: The suggested serving size for this chai masala is ¼ teaspoon per cup of tea. But you might want to alter the amount and figure out what quantity works best for you. I start by adding ⅛ teaspoon per cup and work your way up until your desired flavor is reached.
Grinding Spices: You can grind these spices in a coffee grinder, but I also recommend purchasing a spice grinder. They are very handy for grinding all kinds of spices and are relatively inexpensive.
Storing: Store your Chai Masala Powder in an air tight container in a cool dark place for up to 3-4 months.
Total Quantity: My recipe servings are calculated based on ¼ teaspoon per cup of tea. This recipe makes ½ cup total = 24 teaspoons, divided by 4 = 96 servings total.
Storing Individual Spices: To keep your individual spices fresh, store them in a tightly covered container and put them in a dry and cool spot. Whole spices will stay fresh longer than ground ones.
Spice Mix: You can use this Chai Masala Powder blend to spice up some of your favorite baked goods recipes like cookies, pies or cakes as well. If you want to add a little chai masala flavor add some of this spice mix.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the difference between chai and masala chai?

The main difference between chai and masala chai is the addition of spices. Masala chai is the combination of black tea, milk, and warm Indian spices while chai is simply black tea and milk.

Can masala chai reduce weight?

Masala chai can help reduce belly fat if you don't add excess sugar and milk. As well as combining with a healthy diet and exercise routine.

Does masala chai make you sleepy?

Masala chai does contain caffeine, but not in excess, and will most likely not disturb your sleep unless you are very sensitive to caffeine. Chai contains tannin which lowers the rate at which caffeine is absorbed into your system, so it is not as powerful as coffee.

More Spice Blends on the Blog

These recipes are part of the Cooking 101 & Meal Prep Recipe Collection.

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