Indian Ginger Tea Recipe – Masala Chai Tea Recipe | Adrak Wali Kadak Chai with a warm spice note in combination with the heat & soothing properties from the warmed milk that makes it very relaxing to consume. Black tea leaves are brewed with creamy milk, flavourful whole spices to give this aromatic & soothing beverage, Chai.
Editor’s note: This post was originally published in May 2015 and has been updated with Video and replaced with edited pictures for comprehensiveness and freshness.
I’m pretty sure by now all of you know that I’m a coffee freak!!……Don’t you? Just like any coffee drinker, tea fans are very specific about what makes a “perfect” cup. With that being said, I will share with you Indian Style Ginger Cardamom tea or chai recipe, a distinctive style of milk-based tea consumed throughout the Indian sub-continent and into Southeast Asia.
What is Ginger Tea or Masala Chai?
Chai has a warm spice kick in combination with the heat and soothing properties from the warmed milk that make it very relaxing to consume. This drink is incredibly simple to make and is the perfect drink for a cold winter day. Occasionally, I do crave for this age-old concoction, especially when I’m caught with a bad cold or love it on a rainy cold evening along with some hot spicy Indian snacks.
So, Why am I sharing this recipe when it’s not my favourite?…Of course for my beloved Non-Indian friends who love Indian chai !!
There is no hard-and-fast rule or a strict recipe to make tea. Every household has their own spice blend or the so-called chai masala, which is added to give it the distinct flavour. Play around with the flavours. More cardamom if you’re a fan, for example. Find your own formula. Once you hit it, you’ll know. I personally do not make any blend but just add fresh whole spices.
Homemade ginger tea is excellent in soothing stomach cramps and in aiding digestion. Ginger is very powerful and has loads of health benefits, so it is really, really good for you!! The spiciness and flavour of the ginger also adds a subtle heat of its own to the tea. Cardamom does its job and creates a magic with it’s flavour.
One caution note I though I must share to all those embarking on making their own chai !!
It is that ONE DAY, you will accidentally let your tea boil over onto the stove. Trust me it is unavoidable. You will be standing by the stove after having added the milk. You will be diligently keeping an eye on the pot. A slow moving minute or two will pass and nothing would have happened, during which time your mind will undoubtedly wander. It will be in that split second, when your attention was allowed to drift, that the milk will quickly bubble up and the tea/chai will spill all over your once tidy stove top. And that cleaning is a nightmare!!
Don’t resist it; it is bound to happen. It’s almost an initiation. Look down on the mess that was once your clean stove-top and realise that millions of enthusiastic chai drinkers have probably had the same experience with their morning cup of tea as well. But move on!!
Among the many variations of making tea, here is the simplest one flavoured with ginger & cardamom. So folks give it a try and enjoy your hot Indian Style Ginger Cardamom Tea!!!
Steps to Follow for
Indian Ginger Tea Recipe
Ingredients you will need:
- Peel the ginger and slice thinly, grate or crush. This will help you make a very flavourful ginger tea.
- Crush or powder cardamom. I prefer to crush it as I like to enhance the flavour of my tea and not to dominate the flavour of ginger. I use cardamom with peel.
- In a saucepan or kettle, add the water, tea leaves, grated ginger and crushed cardamom with the peel.
- Boil this mixture over medium heat for a good 5-7 minutes, till the colour of the water changes to a mild yellowish hue. The ginger releases its juices & flavours in the water and thus changes its colour.
Note: Alternatively for a stronger tea, just boil ginger in water for 10 minutes or more. And use more slices of ginger. You really can’t over do it, so feel free to add as much ginger and simmer it for as long as you want. Then add the tea leaves. If you boil for too long along with tea leaves, you may end up with a bitter tasting tea.
- Add sugar and simmer for a more of 2 to 3 minutes till the water gets a deep hue of red.
- Simmering makes the tea strong. if you prefer a light version, then just boil it for less time.
- Finally add milk and simmer for 2 to 3 minutes.
Straining the tea:
- Turn off the heat and strain the tea through a strainer. You can see how messy the it can get. So, I always prefer not to strain the tea directly into the serving cups…and still end up doing that!
- Transfer to serving cups and serve hot Indian Style Ginger Cardamom Tea or Adrak chai or simply known as Chai with any of your favourite Indian snacks like Pakodas, Vadas or samosas. You can also serve the ginger tea with biscuits, cookies, chips or just nuts.
Indian Ginger Tea Recipe | Masala Chai Tea Recipe | Adrak Wali Chai
Ingredients
- 2 Cups Water
- 1-2 Cardamom Crushed
- 1 to 2 tbsp Ginger Grate grated or crushed (depending on how mild or strong you want your tea)
- 2 to 3 tsp Black tea Powder or Leaves depending on how mild or strong you want your tea
- 1.5 Cups Milk Low fat or Whole Milk
- 2 tsp Sugar Adjust to taste
Instructions
- In a saucepan or kettle, add the water, tea leaves, ginger and crushed cardamom with the peel.
- Boil this mixture over medium heat for a good 5-7 minutes, till the colour of the water changes to a mild yellowish hue.
- Add sugar and simmer for a more of 2 to 3 minutes till the water gets a deep hue of red.
- Simmering makes the tea strong. if you prefer a light version, then just boil it for less time.
- Finally add milk and simmer for 2 to 3 minutes.
- Turn off the heat and strain the tea through a strainer.
Recipe Video
Notes
- You can also add the tea leaves to the water only when it has come to a rolling boil. Some even prefer to turn off the heat and cover the pan with a lid and let the flavours infuse. This helps if you want a milder tea.
- I prefer adding equal amounts of water and milk but you can add as much or as less milk as you prefer. I have used low fat milk but feel free to use whichever suits you.
- Adjust sugar to suit your taste. While making tea for more number of people or for guests, you can skip adding sugar while making tea and add while serving because each one might want different quantities of sugar.
- Do not simmer the tea for too long as it will make the tea stronger and in turn bitter.
- Add 1 tsp of tea leaves per cup and simmer for 1 to 2 minutes and you will get perfectly brewed tea. Not too strong and not too light.
Do check out other Beverages and Drinks and a few Quick Snacks to go with your tea!!
Many more to come!!…..STAY TUNED!!
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Happy Cooking 
Cheers!!
Padma.
