🍵 Masala Chai Recipe: Authentic Indian Spiced Tea (2026)

Masala chai is more than tea — it's a ritual. Strong black tea simmered with milk, crushed ginger and a blend of warming spices. This recipe gives you the perfect cutting-chai balance, plus 5 tasty variations.

Ingredients (serves 4)

• 2 cups water + 2 cups whole milk
• 4 tsp strong Assam/CTC black tea
• 1-inch ginger, crushed
• 4 green cardamoms, 4 cloves, 1 cinnamon stick, 6 black peppercorns — lightly crushed
• Sugar to taste

Method

1. Boil water with ginger and whole spices 3 minutes until fragrant.

2. Add tea leaves, boil 2 minutes for a strong brew.

3. Add milk and sugar, simmer 4-5 minutes. Strain and serve piping hot.

5 variations

• Adrak chai: double the ginger.
• Elaichi chai: extra cardamom only.
• Chocolate chai: 1 tsp cocoa with the tea.
• Tulsi chai: 6 holy basil leaves with the spices.
• Kashmiri chai: green tea + salt + crushed almonds (pink tea).

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