During the nineteenth century, when the British established and developed tea cultivation in Assam and Darjeeling in the northeastern and the Nilgiri Hills in the southwest of India, the popularity of masala chai tea seems to have grown.
Indian inhabitants did not often drink a lot of tea, even though enormous amounts of the black tea grown in those areas were sent back to Britain to be drunk there and elsewhere in the west.
This fragrant tea can be made with a variety of spice mixtures, but the so-called warm spices—cinnamon, cardamom, cloves, ginger, pepper, anise, and nutmeg—are most frequently used.
It is often made using Assam black tea. A little water and a little milk are added to the mixture to finish it.
Related article: My #1 Chai tea homemade recipe. Plus bonus recipe.
Is Indian Masala Chai tea good for you?
The properties of Masala Chai tea provide numerous benefits for our body, in addition to its delicious flavor. Next, you will find many ways how is Masala chai tea good for you.
- Some people say that regularly drinking this tea helps fight the symptoms associated with depression.
- The mixture of tea and spices is an excellent stimulant for the brain and provides a plus of vitality.
- Spices fight halitosis as they act as a natural antiseptic against the bacteria that cause bad breath.
- The minerals provided by tea help maintain strong teeth and bones.
- The anti-inflammatory effect of cinnamon, ginger, and cloves comes in handy to prevent and relieve problems such as arthritis and rheumatism.
- The antiseptic properties of cloves and pepper protect us from the bacteria present in our day to day, whose proliferation can mean indigestion or disease.
- Boosting the immune system keeps you alert to actively protect yourself from harmful environmental or seasonal elements like colds.
- The digestive qualities of ginger, cardamom, and pepper help against indigestion, malaise, and dizziness, and reduce sugar and cholesterol levels.
- The antioxidants in cinnamon and tea prevent cellular aging.
Related article: How Much Chai Tea Is Too Much Caffeine Content?
A Cup of Traditional Masala Chai Tea – An Ideal Indian Drink
Choose Your Ingredients.
Brewing a cup of traditional masala chai tea starts with selecting the right ingredients.
You will need black tea leaves, spices such as cardamom, cinnamon, and clove, and fresh herbs like ginger and tulsi.
Milk adds a comforting feel to the beverage while sugar adds some sweetness.
Once you have all the required ingredients chosen in hand, put them together and brew a delicious aroma-filled cup of masala chai tea!
Prepare the Spices and Sugar.
Before beginning the process of brewing your Masala Chai Tea, you will need to prepare the spices and sugar.
On low heat, gently roast the spices like clove, cardamom, cinnamon, and peppercorns in a heavy-bottomed pan until fragrant.
Use a mortar and pestle to grind them together until they form a fine powder. Then mix in some sugar (or any sweetener of your choice) and set aside so that you can use it along with other ingredients later.
Related: The Best Iced Chai Tea Latte You’ll Ever Make.
Bring the Water to a Boil.
Now you’re ready to start making the tea. In a medium-sized pot, bring two cups of water to a boil.
Once the water is boiling, add the ground spices and sugar mixture to the pot and stir it evenly.
Now reduce the heat and let it simmer on low heat for 5 minutes – this will allow all of the flavors to mingle and come together.
Finally, add 1/2 cup of black tea or 2-3 heaping teaspoons of loose-leaf tea and cover the pot with its lid. Let it steep for another 5 minutes before turning off the heat and serving.
Add the Tea and Spices to the Boiling Water.
Once the boiling water is ready, add the desired spices and sugar to the pot and stir it evenly.
Choose from a combination of traditional chai masala spices like cardamom, cloves, cinnamon, nutmeg, and ginger.
For extra intensity, you can also add toasted black peppercorns. Finally, add 1/2 cup of black tea or 2-3 heaping teaspoons of loose-leaf tea and cover the pot with its lid.
Let it steep for another 5 minutes before turning off the heat and serving.
Related: The Best Fertility Tea for Women and Get More Embryos!
Simmer for Five Minutes and Add Milk or Cream.
After the spices and tea have steeped in the water, add 1 cup of dairy or non-dairy milk.
Traditionally, chai is made with whole milk but you can use anything from almond or oat milk to soy or coconut cream.
Bring it back to a boil and then lower the heat and let it simmer for at least 5 minutes. The longer you let it simmer, the more flavor will be released from the spices.
Serve your masala chai hot with a sprinkle of ground cinnamon. Enjoy!
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