How to Make Chai

Guide Note

Chai tea is a delicious, spicy, hot drink that's good for warming up on a cold day or soothing the nerves anytime. You may have already enjoyed a chai latte at your local coffee shop. Now How to Make Chai shows you how to brew your own batch at home.

Table of Contents

• Introduction
• What You'll Need
• Step 1: Create a Base
• Step 2: Add Your Own Touch
• Step 3: Brew the Chai
• Conclusion
• References

How to Make Chai Tea Tips

1. Chai translates literally as "tea."
2. Cardamom is essential to a chai mix.
3. Use whole spices rather than ground.
4. Start with a few base ingredients.
5. Add other spices to give the mix your own touch.
6. Reduce the time the tea boils to reduce bitterness.

• by Liz Casler

Introduction

• As with curry powder, there is no authoritative recipe for chai tea. Actually, the word "chai" translates simply as "tea." However, what most people mean when they reference chai tea is a mixture of black tea and strong spices correctly known as masala chai.¹ You can make your own chai at home and tailor the exact flavor to your own preferences. All you need is some water, black tea, milk and a few of your favorite spices.

What You'll Need

The many ingredients of chai. (Creative Commons photo by Philippe Teuwen)

• Black tea and cardamom are truly essential to chai.¹ However, the other ingredients are largely a matter of taste. It's best to use whole, fresh spices if at all possible.

Ingredients

• Black tea, loose or in bags (the stronger the better)¹
• Milk
• Water
• Sugar, brown sugar, honey or other sweetener
• Cardamom—expensive member of the ginger family with a sweet, flowery aroma²
• Cinnamon—sweet and flavorful; cassia is sometimes sold as cinnamon, but not as flavorful as the real thing³
• Ginger—sweet and spicy⁴
• Peppercorns
• Cloves—strong, distinct flavor⁵
• Nutmeg (optional)—strong, somewhat citrus-y flavor⁶
• Chocolate or cocoa powder (optional)
• Vanilla (optional)
• Star anise or licorice (optional)—anise tastes much like real licorice⁷
• Saffron (optional)—bright yellow color, bitter honey flavor⁸
• Coriander (optional)—lightly sweet with hints of citrus and mint⁹

Equipment

• Tea strainer or thin mesh strainer
• Saucepan or pot

Step 1: Create a Base Flavor Mix

• Again, your personal tastes will determine the final composition of your chai mix. Below you'll find some suggestions for starting ingredients. The given amounts are intended to flavor about three servings of tea made from three bags of black tea and three cups of water.
  • 10 whole green cardamom pods
  • 1 stick of cinnamon
  • 1 one-inch slice of fresh ginger
  • 4 peppercorns
  • 5 whole cloves

Step 2: Add Your Own Touch

Spice it up to your taste. (Creative Commons photo by Ben Cumming)

• Consider your own taste for the following ingredients when including them in your mixture. Smell a spice before adding it to your base mix. If you know you don't enjoy a certain flavor, don't include it. The measurements given are only a starting point, so feel free to change them up.
  • 4 teaspoons anise or 2 drops licorice extract¹⁰
  • 1/2 teaspoon grated nutmeg
  • 1/2 vanilla bean¹¹
  • Pinch of saffron threads¹²
  • 1 tablespoon fennel seed¹³
  • 1 teaspoon coriander seeds¹⁰

Step 3: Brew the Chai

Brewing chai. (Creative Commons photo by Warren Noronha)

• Masala chai is stronger than other teas because the tea and spices are exposed to high temperatures for a longer period of time.¹ If you find, though, that your tea becomes too bitter for you, reduce the amount of time that the tea bags spend in the boiling water.

1. Put spices and water in a saucepan and bring to a boil.
2. Simmer for five minutes, then take the mixture off the heat.
3. Allow spices to steep for ten minutes or so.
4. Put the pan back on the burner and bring it to a boil again.
5. Add the tea bags and allow the mixture to simmer for another three to five minutes.
6. Take off the heat and strain the entire mixture, discarding the pieces of whole spices and the tea bags.
7. Add milk and sweetener to taste.

Conclusion

• If you truly enjoy your chai, you'll take the time to perfect your own recipe. If you find the spices in your brew too strong, you don't have to waste that batch. Simply add some extra hot water or milk before you drink it. Get some input from friends—see who can come up with the best mix! Then, try your hand at making your own matcha tea or espresso drinks.

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References for How to Make Chai

1. ↑ ^{1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3} Wikipedia: Masala Chai
2. ↑ McCormick: Cardamom
3. ↑ McCormick: Cinnamon
4. ↑ Wikipedia: Ginger
5. ↑ McCormick: Cloves
6. ↑ McCormick: Nutmeg
7. ↑ McCormick: Anise
8. ↑ McCormick: Saffron
9. ↑ McCormick: Coriander
10. ↑ ^{10.0 10.1} RecipeZaar: Chai Tea (August 16, 1999)
11. ↑ Martha Stewart: Chai Tea with Milk
12. ↑ About.com: Kashmiri Chai Tea
13. ↑ FoodNetwork.com: Chai Tea

Chai Recipes

• About.com: Kashmiri Chai Tea
• All Recipes: Chai Tea
• Epicurious: Chai Tea (November 25, 2007)
• FoodNetwork.com: Chai Tea
• Martha Stewart: Chai Tea with Milk
• RecipeZaar: Chai Tea (August 16, 1999)
• Whole Foods Market: Authentic Chai Tea

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