It’s very simple and easy.

Like all milk teas that are brewed in the sub-continent, Masala Chai (Masala Tea) is brewed no differently. The only difference being the presence of the mixture of the following spices (also called the warm spices): Ginger (dried/fresh), green Cardamom pod, Pepper-corn, Cinnamon, and Clove. Some other variations, may be added separately and include the addition of cumin, fennel seed, star anise, nutmeg, bay leaves and sometimes saffron.

Now to the brewing part.

Masala Chai is brewed mostly with milk and sugar in most part of the Indian sub-continent.

For simplicity, we’ll brew our Masala Chai with the first five spices mentioned earlier, that is, Ginger, Green Cardamom pods, Pepper corn, Cinnamon and cloves. (The rest of the spices are left aside to be experimented by you as you get to experience the concoctions of tastes and flavours you gradually get as you keep making more Masala Chais. The possibilities are limitless.)

To make a cup:

Boil 3/4^th cup of water + 1/4^th milk with the following ingredients added:

1)  A tea spoon of black tea, preferably of Assam variety,(If Darjeeling tea loose leafs are used, leaves of Autumn flush/second flush black tea  are preferred.)

2)  A half (or one)  teaspoon of white sugar,

3)  Crushed Ginger(Fresh is better),(A small piece)

4)  A pod of green Cardamom,

5)  Crushed Pepper corns (2-4 corns)

6)  A half an inch of Cinnamon stick

7)  One or two cloves.

The ingredients are to be boiled for two minutes or more till the colour of the liquor turns ginger brown ( or almond brown). The colour of the tea depends on the tea leaves used. The liquor got from the Assam variety are a lot darker in shade than that got from the Darjeeling teas since the tea leaves are either china or clonal.

Health Benefits of Masala Chai

This Masala Chai is best had to warm the body and rejuvenate the tired soul. The presence of warm spices heats the body and rejuvenates the tired cells.

Other benefits associated with this tea is from the presence of Ginger which is a cure for the loss of appetite, flatulence, colic, and motion sickness.

Cardamom aids in cough and flu, acts as a diuretic, aids digestion.

Cinnamon is effective in managing the pains linked to arthritis and menstrual cycle, regulates blood sugar and lowers cholesterol.

Pepper corn aids the loss of body weight.

And Clove among other things relieves the stress in the body.

With all these health benefits packed in a tasty cup, its time you moved some muscles to make one now.

Happy Sipping!