Masala Chai

Masala Chai, Hindi: मसाला चाय, literally "mixed-spice tea". It is a flavoured tea beverage made by brewing black tea with a mixture of aromatic Indian spices and herbs. Originating in India, the beverage has gained worldwide popularity, becoming a feature in many coffee and tea houses. Although traditionally prepared by a decoction of green cardamom pods, cinnamon sticks, ground cloves, ground ginger, and black peppercorn together with black tea leaves, retail versions include tea bags for infusion, instant powdered mixtures, and concentrates.

Ingredients

1 cup Water

1 cup Milk

Cloves, Cinnamon stick, Cardamom

Ginger

Mint Leaves

Basil Leaves

Sugar

Tea powder

Method

In a mortar-pestle, crush together the cloves, cinnamon and cardamom. Put water to boil in a pan. Add the crushed 'masala' to the water. Now crush the ginger piece and add that to the water. Roughly cut the Basil and Mint leaves and add them.Put in the sugar and let the mixture boil.

Add tea leaves to the boiling mixture and stir. Once the mixture starts to boil again, add milk and reduce the flame to medium. Do not leave the tea unattended now, as it can overflow. Wait for the tea to simmer and slowly rise up towards the rim of the pan. 

Shut off the gas, and pass it through a sieve. Masala Chai is ready, to be served with biscuits, toast, or other dry snacks. This tea can also be served with snacks like Masala Poha, recipe here: Masala Poha