There is so much more out there than just the standard, black tea leaves with milk that you may be used to when it comes to tea. In fact, there is a world of tea out there for you to try and hopefully enjoy. One that we particularly love is the Indian delicacy of masala tea.
But, what is masala tea, and how do you make it at home? Take a look at our guide and see what you can learn about this delicious tea.
What is masala tea made of?
Masala tea first was created in South Asia, where families enjoyed it in their homes. However, the idea of masala tea soon spread further around the world. Not only in people's homes, but also in commercial outlets too.
Whilst "normal" tea is made of black tea and that alone, masala tea is different because it has some rather delicious additions. Masala tea has spices added, which takes the flavor to a new level.
Masala tea ingredients list
One important thing to know about masala tea is that the ingredients that go into making it will vary depending on the region. The main elements you can expect to see in masala tea are black tea, crushed ginger, cardamom, cloves, and cinnamon.
All giving masala tea its distinct and somewhat spiced flavor.
Is masala tea the same as chai tea?
How to prepare masala tea at home
Masala tea is made in most households in India, and you will find that every single one has their take on how best to make it. Just like some people like their black tea a certain way. If you want to make it at home, then you need to know how best to prepare it so that you and your family can then enjoy it together.
The base that you need is a standard black tea, one that you can then add the appropriate spices to transform into a gorgeous, warming cup of masala tea.
Our favorite mix for masala tea is:
- 350ml of water
- 100ml of milk
- 4 black peppercorns
- 10 cardamom pods, crushed lightly
- A pinch of fennel seeds
- Small piece of a cinnamon stick
- 1 tsp of fresh ginger, peeled, and roughly sliced
- 1 black tea bag
Method
- Gather the ingredients.
- Grind spices together
- Bring water to the boil
- Just before the water comes to a rolling boil, add the tea bag (you can use leaves if you prefer), followed by the and the ground spices, and let it simmer for 2-3 minutes
- Then add Milk and sugar and let it simmer for another 2-3 minutes
- Use a strainer and pour into cup and relax and enjoy!
How to make masala tea without milk
The above recipe called for masala tea to be made with milk, but what if you don't have milk as a part of your diet?
The good news is that you can enjoy masala tea without milk. It works much like a traditional tea in the fact that it can be served without milk. You may find that you need to add slightly more water from the above recipe.
Of course, you could always add dairy-free milk to your tea if you prefer it to be creamy and light. However, it is entirely up to you, and the spice mixture will still allow for a delicious flavor.
How to make spicy tea masala
The nature of masala tea is that it is supposed to be lightly spiced, but some people prefer to have a slightly spicier tea than the standard. If this is the case for you, you can always up the spices you use; more cinnamon can increase your tea's spice level, as can the ginger. However, be aware that these ingredients can transform the flavor of the tea.
Masala lemon tea recipe
Love the idea of adding a spot of citrus to your masala tea? If you do, then the good news is that masala lemon tea is a thing (and it tastes incredible). The idea of this is that you make masala tea the usual way, adding your chosen spices to transform black tea.
At the end of the process, when you are ready to serve up your tea, you can add lemon juice to it and a little bit of honey to keep it as sweet as possible.
Masala tea spice mix recipe
Love the idea of making your own masala tea spice mix at home, ready to add to your tea whenever you want. As we have already mentioned, masala tea is spiced to your likening. However, if you do want to make the spice mix in advance, then here are some of the main ingredients that you need to add to the mix:
- 2 teaspoons of ground cardamom
- 2 teaspoons ground allspice
- 2 teaspoons ground nutmeg
- 4 teaspoons ground cinnamon
- 2 teaspoons ground cloves
- 6 teaspoons ground ginger
Want more spice in your teacup? Feel inspired to try out masala tea for yourself? Why not take a look at Tea India’s superior range of India-inspired teas? Offering a range of flavorsome drinks that have been expertly formulated to tantalize your taste buds, you are sure to discover delicious exotic flavors that you may not have even thought to try before, along with some old favorites. Perfect for those relaxing moments at the end of a busy day, from masala tea to cardamom chai, we’ve got it all.