Skip to content
RecipeCrave
indiandrinkvegetarian

Authentic Masala Chai

4.9(64 reviews)

Properly brewed Indian spiced milk tea. green cardamom, cloves, ginger, cinnamon, black pepper, simmered with strong black tea and creamy milk. The real thing, not a "chai latte."

Total time:
15 min
Servings:
2
Per serving:
120 kcal
Cost per serving:
$0.50
Difficulty:
easy
Authentic Masala Chai

Step-by-step

  1. In a small saucepan, combine water with all spices and ginger. Bring to a boil.

  2. Reduce heat. Simmer 4 minutes until aromatic.

    4 min timer

  3. Add tea and sugar. Boil 1 minute.

  4. Pour in milk. Bring to a gentle boil. Let it rise to the rim once, lower heat. Repeat twice.

  5. Strain into mugs. Serve immediately.

Cook's tip

The double-rise is what builds chai's signature body. Loose tea (CTC Assam) is far superior to bagged.

Storage

Best fresh.

Freezer: Do not freeze.

Nutrition per serving

Calories
120
Protein
4g
Carbs
14g
Fat
4g
Fiber
0g
Sugar
12g
Sat Fat
2.5g
Sodium
50mg

Estimates based on USDA FoodData Central. See our nutrition disclaimer.

Frequently asked questions

Dairy-free?

Sub oat milk or full-fat coconut milk. Texture is very close.

Can I use ground spices?

Whole spices are dramatically better. Ground spices turn the chai murky and overly grassy.

Reviews

4.9(64 reviews)

Tola O.

3 days ago

Made this for Sunday lunch — the smoky bottom turned out perfect. Family demolished the pot in twenty minutes.

✓ Would make again

Marcus B.

1 week ago

First time cooking this and the timing notes saved me. Did not lift the lid once. The crust at the bottom was the best part.

✓ Would make again

Aisha K.

2 weeks ago

Loved it but added an extra scotch bonnet — we like it spicy. Recipe scales well, made a double batch.

✓ Would make again

Reviews shown are illustrative pre-launch. Real user reviews appear here as the community grows.

You might also like

Weeknight Chickpea Coconut Curryvegan

Weeknight Chickpea Coconut Curry

4.9 (92)

A creamy, deeply spiced one-pot curry built from pantry staples. Vegan, gluten-free, freezer-friendly, and tastes like it simmered all day.

Time
35 min
Servings
4 servings
Calories
410 kcal
Cost per serving
$2.20/serving
Chapman (Nigerian Cocktail)vegan

Chapman (Nigerian Cocktail)

4.8 (56)

Lagos's favorite mocktail. bittersweet, citrusy, deeply red. Blackcurrant cordial, Fanta, Sprite, lime, bitters. Refreshing as a Saturday afternoon in Ikoyi.

Time
5 min
Servings
1 servings
Calories
180 kcal
Cost per serving
$1.40/serving
Zobo (Nigerian Hibiscus Drink)vegan

Zobo (Nigerian Hibiscus Drink)

4.8 (71)

Tart, ruby-red drink steeped from dried hibiscus petals with ginger, pineapple, and clove. vitamin C–rich, vegan, refreshing, and uniquely West African.

Time
35 min
Servings
8 servings
Calories
80 kcal
Cost per serving
$0.40/serving
Iced Vanilla Oat Lattevegan

Iced Vanilla Oat Latte

4.7 (38)

Cafe-quality iced latte at home in five minutes. vanilla syrup, oat milk, espresso. Save $7 per day and tweak it to your sweetness exactly.

Time
5 min
Servings
1 servings
Calories
130 kcal
Cost per serving
$0.90/serving
Spiced Beef Samosas

Spiced Beef Samosas

4.8 (59)

Golden triangles of crisp pastry hiding a peppery beef-and-pea filling. Indian street food made approachable.

Time
50 min
Servings
8 servings
Calories
280 kcal
Cost per serving
$1.40/serving
Classic Caipirinhavegan

Classic Caipirinha

4.7 (48)

Brazil's national cocktail. lime, sugar, and cachaça muddled into the freshest, brightest drink in the western hemisphere.

Time
3 min
Servings
1 servings
Calories
180 kcal
Cost per serving
$1.80/serving