A warm and robust cup of kadak masala chai. Strong Indian tea prepared with aromatic spices and lots of ginger.
Growing up in an Indian household, tea was (and still is) a staple in our home. Ever since I was little, I fondly remember my mom having a cup of tea with a digestive cookie or some namkeen (salty snack). It’s no surprise that I started drinking tea by the age of 16.
In my family, we are all chai lovers, although addiction may be the right word here. We often meet for elaborate chai sessions which include multiple cups of tea, desserts, Indian snacks, and lots of chitchat. It’s our way to connect with one another.
Every time I go back home, the one thing I look forward to most are my chai sessions with my mom, sisters and nieces. It has become such a ritual of ours, and I know we’ll be doing it for years and years to come. It’s all about bonding, sisterhood, and sharing.
Now that I’m living on the west coast, I need to find myself some chai buddies, but for now, it’s just me. 🙂 I’ve been experimenting for months to come up with my own version of Kadak Masala Chai, one that’s strong and hits the back of your throat. It’s taken me a few months to perfect so I hope you will try it and appreciate it. My tea is flavorful, gingery, and robust in flavor.
6 Tips on how to make good Kadak Masala Chai
- Make sure the water is simmering before you add the spices and ginger.
- Ginger is KEY in this recipe. I love how the flavors hit the back of my throat. You can’t have enough ginger.
- Add the tea leaves once the water is simmering.
- DO NOT boil the tea leaves for long, only boil the tea leaves for 30 – 45 seconds max and then add the milk. If you boil the tea leaves too long, this will result in bitter tea. Trust me, I’ve experimented enough.
- Pull the tea as you bring it to a boil, this allows the flavors to combine and creates a frothy mixture.
- Now add cardamom while the tea starts to boil. Adding cardamom towards the end will enhance the flavor of the tea.
- Once the tea is done boiling, cover the tea with a lid for a minute and let the flavors marry together.
Now that you’ve read my tips on making a good cup of Kadak Masala Chai, proceed to make it. Hope you love it. Follow me on Instagram and tag me if you make it.
kadak masala chai is:
Robust
Warm and Spicy
Comforting
Gingery
Soothing when you’re sick
Gluten-Free
The Best Masala Chai 🙂
How to make Kadak Masala Chai step by step?
1. Heat up a pot of water on medium-high heat.
2. While the water comes to a simmer, use a mortar and pestle to crush the spices – clove, fennel seeds, peppercorns, and cinnamon stick.
3. Once the water simmers, add the crushed spices.
4. Grate the ginger directly into the pot of water. This helps the juices of the ginger directly fall in which adds a lot of flavor.
5. Reduce heat to medium. Bring the water to a boil – about 1 minute.
6. Once the flavors start to boil, add the tea leaves. Boil for 30 seconds max.
7.. Immediately after, add the milk.
Boil
8. Pull the tea a few times to help mix all the ingredients. This also create a frothy mixture.
9. Bring the tea to a boil, make sure the tea doesn’t overflow so stay close. This will take about 3 minutes. Add the crushed cardamom at this stage which will enhance the flavor of your tea.
10. Once the tea comes to a boil. Turn off the gas. Cover with a lid for one minute.
11. Strain the tea into a glass/mug. If you require sugar, add it directly to your tea. Enjoy with a digestive cookie, my favorite way to enjoy tea these days.
Kadak Masala Chai (gluten-free)
Ingredients
- 1 cups water
- 1 clove
- 1/4 tsp fennel seeds
- 2 cardamom pods - premium quality* use 2 pods if it's premium quality, else 3-4
- 1 black peppercorns
- 1/4 inch cinnamon stick sliced in half
- 1/2 inch piece ginger grated** (roughly 2 tsp)
- 1 1/2 tsp tea leaves I love Wagh Bakri
- 1/3 cup organic whole milk***
Instructions
- Heat up a pot of water on medium-high heat.
- While the water comes to a simmer, use a mortar and pestle to crush the spices - clove, fennel seeds, peppercorns, and cinnamon stick.
- Once the water simmers, add the crushed spices.
- Grate the ginger directly into the pot of water. This helps the juices of the ginger fall in which adds a lot of flavor.
- Reduce heat to medium. Bring the water to a boil - about 1 minute.
- Once the flavors start to boil, add the tea leaves. Boil for 30 seconds max.
- Immediately after, add the milk.
- Pull the tea a few times to help mix all the ingredients.
- Bring the tea to a boil, make sure the tea doesn't overflow so stay close. Add the cardamom at this time.
- Once the tea comes to a boil. Turn off the gas. Cover with a lid for one minute.
- Strain the tea into a glass/mug. If you require sugar, add it directly to your tea. Enjoy with a digestive cookie - it's my favorite way to enjoy tea these days.
Notes
DID YOU MAKE THIS RECIPE?
Tag @honeywhatscooking on Instagram and hashtag it #honeywhatscooking.
I love seeing your creations!
Pin Kadak Masala Chai
Just made this Nisha and it’s amazing!!! Thank you for a great recipe.
Thanks Neha. I’m so glad you enjoyed it. Yay! 🙂
Thanks so much Neha. So glad you enjoyed my Kadak Masala Chai. 🙂
I always wondered why my tea came out slightly bitter. I didn’t realize I was boiling it WAY more than needed. This makes so much more sense now! ?? I wish I had this recipe years ago. Totally sharing this. Thanks Nisha! ❤️
OMG Sonali!!! I was making the same mistake, sometimes I was over boiling, other times just made it in time. Glad I asked my sister. Let me know if you make it and how it turns out. Hope it works. Thanks so much! <3 🙂
I will have to try some of your tips. Your chai always looks so good!
A terrific recipe!! Love all your tips. Thanks for sharing. Gup shup and great chai are the ingredients for great family times and everlasting memories.
Thank you so much Indy. So glad you enjoyed this. I love a cup of strong Indian tea. 🙂
I have made tea for me and family from years but I never knew why my chai didn’t have cardamom flavor like it should – loved your recipe and my tea was not bitter and flavorful! Thank you soo much for all yummy recipes! ❤️❤️
I am not a chai fan. I grew up in family where my parents day begins with chai but I never liked the taste of it. I started following honeywhatscooking and in her posts she always made chai and I decided to give a try with all her tips. Since than I am in love with chai. Thank you so much!! You changed my perspective about chai.
soooo good! I’ve tried so many recipes and can’t stand when most coffeeshops just use an overly sweetened mix. I love the spicy ginger and add extra black pepper too!
I have been looking for the perfect chai recipe and loved this one! Great tips too!
Thank you for sharing this wonderful recipe. It just brings back all good memories. I haven’t had good tea in a while, I use to do it all wrong. My husband who doesn’t even like tea, had tea with me just because it smelled so good when I was making it. Thanks again!!! Keep sharing these wonderful recipes?
I was always over boiling the tea and just made it and hubby was like wow! He was like how did you make it so well this time! Haha. Thanks for sharing your recipe!
Awww, thanks Ritu. Your comment made my day. I really appreciate it. Don’t worry, I learned from my sister. 🙂
Hi! what brand of tea leaves do you use?
Hi – Wagh Bakri.
I thought I mentioned it in this post. 🙂
I am super late in posting this comment but this has been my go to recipe since months now! One fine random day in this pandemic I decided to try this and oh my.. it gave such a nice touch to my morning tea! So simple and so easy to manage in the morning! Thank you again for this amazing recipe!
Ahhh.. made my day – I’m so glad you enjoyed it. 🙂
Nisha,
I made this today and it was delightful. Just the kadak chai I love. Thanks for sharing this ❤️ one question about quantity
Can you double and made a larger cup? This recipe I made 1/2 cup for me
Hi Monica, Absolutely you can. I’m so glad you enjoyed it. 🙂
Amazing, exactly the taste i was after. Better tea i ever had!
Thank you 🙂
HI Jonathan, You are so welcome. I’m so glad to hear that. 🙂
This recipe is perfect! I spent way too much time to make tea till I tried this recipe. Thank you so much. Can’t wait to try more of your recipes.
Thanks Tina. So appreciate it! Hope you try more recipes. 🙂
Thanks for providing the good recipes. You might want to consider providing a printer friendly version.
If you go to the recipe card, there is an option to print. That will just print the recipe card with the ingredients and directions. Hope that helps.
Thank you!