Chai Tea

How To Make Spiced Indian Milk Tea

Makes: 4 cups | Ready In: 20 mins

How to make chai tea. Also called masala chai or chai latte, this stimulating Indian milk tea will excite your palate. MASALA means spiced and CHAI means tea, and after trying dozens of spices for chai, we find that we like this simple, straight-forward recipe best. Indian black tea is steeped in milk, sweetened, and charged with cardamom, cinnamon, and black pepper.

• 4 cups non-fat milk
(or for creamier chai, use 1-2% milkfat)
• 2 cinnamon sticks, 3" long each
• 1/2 TBSP green cardamom pods
(or 1/2 tsp pre-ground cardamom)
• 1 TBSP strong Indian black tea, loose
• 4-5 tsp sugar, or to taste
• 1/8 tsp black pepper, coarsely cracked

Grind or crush green cardamom pods yourself right before use with a spice grinder or mortar and pestle. Pre-ground cardamom is acceptable, but its flavors are not as strong or true. This is the dominant note for masala chai so use quality cardamom if available.
On the stovetop, combine all ingredients in a pot. Heat milk uncovered to just below the boiling point. Lower heat. Scald milk, stirring constantly, for 15 minutes to allow all flavors to open.
Strain through a fine mesh strainer and serve spiced chai tea hot. Have sugar on the side for anyone who likes it sweeter. Enjoy!