CHAI MASALA POWDER with MASALA CHAI

Chai Masala Powder is an aromatic blend of whole spices that you add to your tea (chai) to make it more flavorful. Masala Chai (spiced Indian tea) is very popular in India, and it is made by adding tea masala in boiling water along with black tea, milk, and sugar.

this recipe

I love to start my morning with a cup of Indian Masala Tea/Chai. My whole family gathered in the mornings and evenings to drink tea together at my parents' home. This is one ritual I'm still continuing even after my marriage.

Like Homemade garam masala, I always keep this Chai Masala Powder in my pantry. It is easy to make masala tea when you already have tea spice-mix. Because otherwise, you have to ground all the spices before making the chai/ tea in a mortar pestle.

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The post contains Helpful Tips & Tricks to make the aromatic Tea Masala Recipe. But if you're in a hurry, you can also click "Jump to Recipe' under the Heading to go directly to the Recipe Card.

Jump to:

• WHAT IS CHAI MASALA?
• 🥘CHAI MASALA INGREDIENTS
• 🔪HOW TO MAKE CHAI MASALA POWDER & MASALA CHAI
• 💭TOP TIP
• ☕HOMEMADE vs STORE-BOUGHT INDIAN TEA MASALA
• 📖VARIATIONS
• 💭CHAI MASALA BENEFITS
• ⭐WHY YOU'LL LIKE THIS RECIPE?
• 🍽EQUIPEMENT
• ☕STORAGE
• 🧾FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
• 🥗OTHER RECIPES
• 📖 RECIPE CARD

WHAT IS CHAI MASALA?

The tea masala recipe or chai ka masala is used to make masala chai, which is a blend of whole spices like Cardamoms, Cloves, Dry Ginger Powder, Cinnamon, a tablespoon of Fennel seeds, and more. Every Indian house has its own secret recipe for Tea Masala.

You can have plain chai too, but I prefer Masala Chai. Also, all the spices used in the Chai Masala Powder have various health benefits. So adding the Masala to tea makes the tea healthier. 

Making the fresh tea masala powder gives a unique flavor. But to save time, I make the masala in advance and store it in an airtight container. If you're making Masala, it's essential to keep it in an airtight container to preserve the aroma of whole spices. Otherwise, the smell might disappear over time, and Masala Chai will not taste that flavorful.

🥘CHAI MASALA INGREDIENTS

Here are some of the Chai Masala Ingredients that you will need to make the most flavorful Indian Chai.

1. Green Cardamom: Green cardamom pods has a unique and an aromatic smell.
2. Black Cardamom: Black Cardamom provides a strong camphor-like smell followed by a smoky smell.
3. Ginger Powder: Adding fresh Ginger to Chai gives a powerful flavor, which is my favorite. But adding the dried ginger powder to Chai also gives a subtle kick to the Chai. Add ginger powder in the Masala, and if you like, you can also add fresh Ginger while making the Chai.
4. Cinnamon: Cinnamon has a sweet-spicy flavor, so adding a lot of it will make Chai Masala a bit pungent. So, add it in small quantity.
5. Fennel Seeds: It is a highly flavorful and aromatic spice, which gives the spiced Indian tea a nice taste. Adding this to Masala gives a subtle fragrant sweetness.
6.  Black Peppercorns: Black Peppercorns have a sharp, pungent aroma and flavor. Adding Black Peppercorns to chai gives a bit of spicy bite, which tastes good. Also, it helps in clearing the throat from soreness if you have any.
7. Nutmeg: Nutmeg is a classic member of sweet spice. Adding Nutmeg in Masala with other whole spices compliments the flavor.

See the recipe card for quantities.

Homemade Chai Masala

1. First roast the whole spices lightly. You can roast them on the stove-top by cooking the whole spices at low heat for 2-3 minutes, or until you smell the beautiful aroma of spices. Or you can roast them in the preheated oven at 400 degrees for 1-2 minutes.
2. Let the spices cool down for few minutes, may be for 10-15 minutes.
3. Transfer the whole spices in the spice grinder or in Vitamix. Make sure the spices have cool down. Then grind the spices coarsely or finely (as needed).

How to Use Chai Masala for making Masala Chai

1. Add 1 cup of water in a bowl & add ½ teaspoon of the masala in the pan. Bring the water to boil.
2. Once water is boiled, add sugar & tea. Let the tea boil for 1 minute.
3. Then add 1 cup of Milk. Let it comes to boil and turn off the stove.
4. Strain the chai into two cups. Serve with some cookies or Indian snacks.

💭TOP TIP

1. Always store homemade chai masala in an air-tight container. that way it will stay good for a longer time.
2. When add chai masala in the water using a dry spoon.
3. You can also add powdered sugar to the masala. Then you need to add any extra sugar when making masala tea.
4. For longer storage, you can keep chai masala in the freezer too. That way the masala will remain fresh & aroma will be intact.
5. When making masala chai, always add chai masala in the boiling water first and then black tea. This will bring out more flavor to the chai.

☕HOMEMADE vs STORE-BOUGHT INDIAN TEA MASALA

You can use homemade or store-bought chai masala to make your masala tea. But I prefer using a homemade one as it is made fresh and has a fantastic aroma. Also, you can make the masala as per your taste. For Example, I don't like a lot of Cinnamon in my Tea Masala, so I add it in smaller quantities. So you can experiment as per your taste and make the chai masala that you'll enjoy.

Although you can use store-bought chai masala powder and it will be aromatic. You have to go with the packet, and you will not change as per your taste.

📖VARIATIONS

You can also add Star Anise or Tulsi (Basil) leaves. I usually don't add them, but adding them gives a nice flavor to Chai. These also have anti-inflammatory and immunity-boosting properties.

💭CHAI MASALA BENEFITS

1. It has antioxidant properties. Because Chai Masala Powder is made by blending whole spices and whole spices like cloves, black cardamom, cinnamon, etc. So it helps with cold, cough, cholestrol, etc.
2. It also acts as a powerful immunity booster.
3. Because of medicinal properties in whole spices, this tea masala also helps in digestion.
4. It also helps in weight loss.

⭐WHY YOU'LL LIKE THIS RECIPE?

1. It can be made in under 5 minutes.
2. It has a beautiful aroma that will make your chai more flavorful.
3. Provides various health benefits.
4. Easy to make chai when you have homemmade chai masala.
5. Chai Masala stays good for a longer time.

🍽EQUIPEMENT

You can make homemade chai masala in a spice grinder. A spice grinder is a pretty handy tool that you can use to gound any spices. Or you can also use mortar pestle to make this aromatic tea powder.

Or you can also add the whole spices in the Vitamix and blend it until coarse and use it to make masala chai.

☕STORAGE

You can store your Tea Masala Recipe in an airtight container. It will remain fresh & aromatic for 3-4 months. You can keep it in the freezer for longer storage, and it will stay fresh for 6 months. When using the chia masala for making masala chai, always use a dry spoon.

🧾FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

🥗OTHER RECIPES

1. GARAM MASALA
2. GARLIC SAUCE
3. CHIMICHURRI SAUCE
4. GREEN CHUTNEY
5. TAMARIND CHUTNEY
6. CRANBERRY SAUCE
7. HUMMUS
8. CILANTRO-JALAPENO HUMMUS

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📖 RECIPE CARD