A perfect cuppa masala chai

/

There is tea for every occasion, emotion and time of day and offers magical healing passed down the generations. There is nothing more comforting than the ritual of #chai especially over the winter. A far cry from a teabag flirting with hot water and a dash of milk.

Since I don't drink coffee, masala chai is my occasional vice on the weekends and more frequently while travelling in India, during those early dewy mornings and the perfect excuse and focal point for roadside pit stops .

Make it 'karak' they said (nice & strong)! I remember growing up in an extended family, where chai was on the constant boil (ookarelo) and learning to make it well was a real art - everyone's tea tastes different despite using the same ingredients. It's perfect with chapati's and pickles, aloo paratha and with savoury Indian snacks.

Masala chai is essentially a spiced, sweetened black tea mixed with milk and a small cup goes a long way for the soul and comes with a myriad or health benefits to match:

  • Supports digestion

  • Stimulates agni (digestive fire)

  • Balances all doshas in autumn and winter

  • Grounding, nourishing and sustains energy

  • Awakens the mind and enhances your mood

  • Reduced Inflammation

  • Powerful antioxidant properties

  • Fights against cough and colds and supports immunity

How to make chai at home:

Ingredients:
300 ml water
2 tsp black tea leaves
natural sugar as per taste
1/2 tsp homemade chai masala 
200 ml whole milk (dairy or non dairy)

Method:

  • Bring water to boil with loose leaf tea (or cheat with tea bags), chai masala and sugar, and simmer on medium heat for a few minutes.

  • Then add a cup of milk (dairy or non dairy) and again let the tea come to the boil for a few minutes.

  • When your chai rolls to top, take off heat and strain. Enjoy!

When dairy milk is boiled through, it becomes more digestible but you can use @oatly oat milk which works really well. 

Chai can be a great morning coffee replacement as it contains less caffeine than coffee, and due to the digestion-promoting spices, the caffeine is better balanced and processed but you can go for decaf tea if you have any major issues with sleep and anxiety. If you have an imbalanced pitta - use spices with caution

Every household has their own special chai masala blend that is ground down from fresh whole spices using a combination of spices that works well: clove, cinnamon, black pepper, ginger, cardamom, nutmeg, rose, fennel, tulsi, mace, star anise and fresh ginger. You can of course use whole spices instead of a prepared blend which makes it even more fragrant and sometimes a simple ginger or cardamom tea suffices.

It's pretty straightforward to make masala chai - however, it can easily be ruined by over-boiling the tea leaves, and making the chai bitter.