Masala Chai (Spiced Indian Tea)

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This fragrant, spiced Indian Masala Chai will invigorate your morning tea time or afternoon snack. Use whole spices or ground chai masala powder and in just 10-minutes you'll have a memorable cup of Indian tea to enjoy.

Masala Chai is one of the most popular teas in the world, and there's a good reason for that. The aroma, sweet and spicy flavors, and creaminess from the milk blend together resulting in comforting flavors in each sip.

It won't be an exaggeration to say that in India, Chai is not just a recipe, it's an emotion!

Tea is a ritual for hubby and I every morning and evening. We start the day with Ginger Tea and then enjoy his all-time favorite Masala Chai with our late afternoon-evening snack.

Since this tea is a favorite in my household, I always have ground tea masala on hand. I use whole spices and grind them to make Chai Masala Powder. It lasts me for three to four months before I make another batch. It makes it easy to make fresh homemade Indian tea anytime I want.

Fun Fact: Chai is the Hindi word for "tea", which was derived from the Chinese word for tea, “cha”. So you can simply call it masala chai. To say 'masala chai tea' is actually repetitive because you're essentially saying 'masala tea tea'.

What is Masala Chai?

Masala chai is an Indian tea that is made with black tea leaves, milk, water and a combination of aromatic herbs and spices. Sugar is commonly used to sweeten it, but it's optional. It has a nice spice and creaminess that will warm you up and energize you for the day.

This tea originated in India, and it now popular worldwide.

History of Masala Chai: Some legends date the origin of chai back more than 5,000 years, when a king ordered a healing spiced beverage for use in Ayurveda, a traditional medicinal practice using a combination of herbs and spices for healing and cleansing of the body.

The original version of this Indian tea didn't include milk or sugar. These two ingredients were introduced in the 1800s, with influences from the British regime.

Homemade Chai Masala Powder vs Store-bought Options

I prefer to use homemade Masala Chai Powder for its superior taste and quality. It takes only two minutes to grind together cardamom, cinnamon, cloves, black peppercorns, fennel seeds, ground ginger, and nutmeg, and it's stays fresh for up 3 months.

If you're looking at store-bought options, you can buy masala chai tea bags but the result will not be the same. The flavor will be much weaker compared to a homemade version. If using those, I recommend adding an extra tea bag.

You can also buy tea masala from Indian grocery stores or online, but it doesn't come close to the freshness of homemade. Since spices lose their strength and flavor over time, making your own masala chai powder is a much preferred option that doesn't take long, and the flavor difference is huge!

Benefits of Masala Chai

Indian masala chai doesn't just have great flavor, it also has the following health benefits:

Invigorating: Masala chai is made with black tea which contains caffeine, which makes is a great way to 'wake up and recharge'. And since it contains roughly one third the caffeine as compared to coffee, it doesn't have a 'low' commonly associated with coffee.
Improve Digestion and Reduce Nausea: The cinnamon, black pepper and ginger may help prevent bacterial infections, support healthy digestion and reduce nausea.
Reduce Blood Sugar Levels: It is possible this tea helps to better control blood sugar levels. Ginger and cinnamon help reduce blood sugar levels and increase insulin sensitivity. Make sure you don't choose a heavily sweetened variety though.
Improve Heart Health: It contains black tea and cinnamon, and both of those may help reduce cholesterol levels and blood pressure.

Masala Chai Ingredients - Notes & Substitutions

Milk: I use 2% dairy milk, a traditional choice for Indian tea. Use whole milk for a richer chai. For vegan chai, replace with oats or almond milk.
Ginger: For best results, I use freshly grated ginger. Note: Simmer the water with ginger before you add milk. That prevents the milk from curdling.
Loose Black Tea Leaves: Black tea has many health benefits, including antioxidants and gut health. For this recipe you can use any loose black tea such as Wagh Bakri or Taj Mahal. If using tea bags, you might have to add an extra bag. I prefer Tetley or Wagh Bakri Tea Bags for their stronger taste.
Chai Masala: I always have homemade Chai Masala Powder on hand, so I use that. You can make it using this easy 2-minute recipe and store it up to 3 months. Alternatively, you can add whole spices including cardamom, cloves, cinnamon, fennel and peppercorns (details mentioned in recipe card).

How to Make Masala Tea

Follow these simple steps below to make delicious Indian tea and impress your friends and family!

Step 1: Add water in a sauce pan and turn the heat on medium-high. Add freshly grated ginger. Let the water come up to a simmer.

Step 2: Add chai masala powder. If using whole spices instead, add them to a mortar and pestle and crush them lightly before adding to the water. That helps release their oils.

Step 3 & 4: As soon as the water comes to a boil, add the tea leaves and let them brew for 30 seconds.

Step 5 & 6: Add milk and let the tea come to a roaring boil. Monitor it at this stage so it doesn't spill over.

Step 7: Reduce the heat to medium and let it simmer for 30 seconds. Turn off the heat.

Step 8: Using a mesh strainer, strain the tea in two cups. Add sugar if using and enjoy!

No-Spill Chai Tip: After adding milk, the tea can spill over while boiling. To prevent that, place a wooden spoon across the sauce pan. The tea will continue to boil, but won't spill over anymore. (pic 7 above)

Make-Ahead for a Party

You can make this chai ahead of time for a party. Simply strain it, pour it in a thermos and keep up to 3 hours.

I wouldn't recommend refrigerating it for later use. Chai doesn't taste the same after storing and reheating, so it's best to discard any leftover chai.

Serving Suggestions

Enjoy a hot cup of this chai with a yummy Almond Flour Blueberry Muffin for a filling, healthy breakfast.
Serve this Indian tea to some friends or family for an afternoon snack along with Apple Cinnamon Cake, or homemade Samosas.
Make this chai for an Indian Hi-Tea and pair it with goodies like Samosa Pinwheels, Cheese Straws, Almond Spice Cookies and Coconut ladoo.

Variations to Try

Vegan Masala Tea: For that simply replace the dairy milk with almond or oat milk instead. Please know that the chai won't be as creamy since almond and oat milk contain less fat than regular milk.
Pour leftover tea over ice for an iced tea version!

Recipe Tips & Notes

Adjust milk quantity: Add more or less milk as per taste. Use full-fat milk for a richer taste.
Add or skip sugar: After pouring the tea in cups, stir in sugar to taste if using. Feel free to skip (like I do).
Tea leaves or tea bag: For best flavor, whether using loose tea leaves or tea bags, wait for the water to boil before adding them.
Don't overcook: Don't simmer the tea for longer than the suggested time as it may turn bitter if overcooked.
Chai Masala: If adding chai masala, I recommend starting with ¼ teaspoon. Taste the chai and if needed add another ¼ teaspoon and simmer for 30 seconds.
Ginger: Fresh ginger gives best results in this recipe. Allow it to cook in boiling water before you add milk to prevent curdling.
Making ahead: This chai can be made ahead and stored in a thermos for up to 3 hours.
Leftover: Always discard leftover chai.
No-Spilling tip: After adding milk, the tea can spill over while boiling. To prevent that, place a wooden spoon across the sauce pan. The tea will continue to boil, but won't spill over anymore.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is masala chai made of?

Masala chai is the combination of hot water, black tea leaves, milk and a combination of spices all heated together to create a sweet, spiced and creamy tea.

Is masala chai bad for health?

Masala chai has many health benefits such as reducing blood sugar levels, heart health, improve digestion and reduce nausea. For information specific to your needs, check with your physician to confirm these.

What is the difference between chai and masala chai?

Chai means tea in Hindi. So chai is typically simply black tea and milk while masala chai is black tea, milk with the addition of a mix of spices.

Can masala chai reduce weight?

Masala chai may help in weight loss. The protein in the milk or milk substitute helps you to feel full longer and the compounds in black tea may reduce the number of calories your body absorbs.