A Tribute to India’s Original Masala Chai- Here Comes an Authentic Recipe | Dalmia Gold

India’s very original recipe of Masala Chai is a mixture of boiling black tea in milk and water with a combination of beautiful and aromatic spices. Masala means a mixture of earthy spices which give the tea its robust flavor. Tea had always been the go-to drink in the Indian subcontinent; however this hot beverage gained massive popularity not only in the domestic coffee and tea houses, but also in the international market. Masala chai gradually became the common drink for every Indian household during breakfast and evening snacks. There is no specific recipe for masala chai in the country as everyone uses his/her own version of the concoction based on their taste.

MYSTERIES OF THE MASALA CHAI

A traditional cup of masala chai would ideally include a mixture of green cardamom pods, cinnamon sticks, ground cloves, ground ginger and black peppercorn with black tea leaves. Almost all recipes of masala chai have the ingredients in them common. It is the order of preparation which differs from regions and households. While chaiwallahs might add all the ingredients from the beginning, boil, strain and serve, some might leave the masala mixture of milk, water and tea leaves simmering for a longer period of time and then add spices to the end.

RECIPE TO WARMTH, PERFECTION AND HAPPINESS

The most common method of making a cup of masala chai is to first combine half a cup of water with one-half cup of milk in pot over heat. Ginger is then grated into the mixture prior to adding the ‘masala’. The mixture of spices is set to boil while 1 teaspoon of black tea leaves is added to the pot. After a flavor infused 5-10 minutes of boiling, the chai is strained and then served. Sugar is added according to taste in any step of recipe. Due to the abundance of spices in the country, every rendition of masala chai is different from one another.