Indian Chai Masala Powder

An aromatic blend of spices; Chai Masala is an easy recipe to make masala chai. It has a handful of spices and comes together in under 5 minutes. 

 Take your masala chai to a whole new level with this spice mix!

Indian Chai is a popular hot drink to enjoy. A mix of milk, tea leaves or loose tea powder, sugar and spices; this is a perfect drink to start the day!

Drinking tea is a tradition across the globe. Masala Chai, a spiced version of regular tea is popular in India. It is an important element of the country's culture and a household favorite. 

A big pot of boiling chai is a popular sight in Indian households and on the streets. A lot of folks start their day with one or even a couple of masala chai cups and have some more in the day. 

What is Masala Chai?

Tea is made in SO many different ways across the globe. 

In India, Masala Chai is the most popular. The term literally translates to Spiced Tea. The addition of spices makes it unique and gives the tea a great aroma and flavor. 

The masala used can vary from household to household but the most popular spices used includes dry ginger powder, cinnamon, cardamom and black pepper. We can also add a lot of other spices. 

Steeping tea with this spice blend gives us Masala Chai. We also add sugar, milk, mint leaves or fresh ginger.Add all these or pick and choose your favorites.

This tea is quite different from the Chai Tea Latte available at so many cafes. However, they can not be used interchangeably!

Making this Chai Masala

Chai Masala is available at most Indian stores in a packaged form. Yet, making it at home has SO many advantages. 

I would recommend making this at home versus using the store bought ones. 

• It is always better to know what is in the spice mix than buying a pre mixed one. This recipe gives you control of quality and proportions.
• Spices tend to lose their flavor when they are sitting for a long time. This is especially true for ground spices. So make a batch at home based on how much you use the blend so you get the best flavor every time! 
• The store bought mix has a set formula for the amount of each ingredient. If you have a preference of extra cardamom or less ginger powder, making the masala at home is the best way to get it.
• The entire process of making the masala takes under 10 minutes and is really easy! 

Video Recipe

Ingredients

While there are various versions of chai masala available, this is the one that we use at home. This is my mother in law's recipe that we totally love! 

Black Peppercorn: We need some spice in this mix. So we add black peppercorn or Kali Mirch. Using black ones works better than the tricolor ones. They have inflammatory properties. 

Dried Ginger: Sonth or dry ginger is nothing but sun-dried version of fresh ginger. A slightly more pungent flavor than fresh ginger, this is a great ingredient for cold and flu and for some zing in the tea. 

Green Cardamom: Cardamom or Elaichi tea is popular and this ingredient is perfect to add in the spice mix. As it has a piney flavor, it tastes great in the tea. I like to use the cardamom pods with skins. As the tea is always strained before serving these will be discarded. And it adds a lot more flavor than the pods alone. 

Cinnamon: This spice is a great way to add natural sweetness to any recipe. Also called as dalchini, we add this in chai masala too. Use store bought cinnamon powder if you do not have cinnamon sticks.  

Nutmeg: A great ingredient to improve digestion and blood circulation; nutmeg or jaiphal is available as a whole nut. Grating it or grinding to a powder works best for the recipe. Moreover, it adds a lot of warmth and sweetness to the blend. 

Mace: The seed covering of nutmeg, mace or javintri is a super flavorful spice. It is not a commonly used ingredient in chai masala. However it enhances the flavor so well. I always use it in my mix. 

Once you have all the spices, all you need to do is grind them to a fine powder to make chai masala! 

Steps to make Chai Masala Powder

To make a small batch

1- Add the whole spices one after the other to a spice mill or coffee grinder.

2- Grind to a fine powder.

3- Add the powdered spices to the spice mill.

4- Blend till it mixes well.

5- Then pass through a medium mesh strainer (optional).

6- Store in an airtight container for up to a month; use as required.

To make a larger batch

1- Add all the whole spices and powders to the blender jar.

2- Blend to a powder.

3- Next strain using a medium mesh strainer (optional).

4- Store in an airtight container for up to a month; use as required.

Frequently asked questions

Can spice powders be used instead of whole spices?

Yes, spice powders work for the recipe. However as they have been grounded a while ago, they might not have the same flavor as the freshly ground spices. And this loses the real idea of grinding the chai masala at home.

If you are missing a spice or two, these can be used. But taste the masala and adjust the spice if required. 

Do you need a spice grinder for making this masala?

Using a spice or even coffee grinder is the best way to make chai masala. Using a blender is okay too, but the texture is definitely different. 

Spice blenders are generally inexpensive and super handy to make so many blends. I have this one and I love it for all my spices. 

Can all the spices be ground together?

Yes for sure! I make a bigger batch and so I grind each spice separately. It is okay to grind the mixed spices in batches too. Whatever way you go, in the end the result is the same.

 

Tips and Notes

• Use a spice grinder to make the chai masala. It gives the perfect texture and is super quick too.

• Store the masala in an airtight container. The masala will lose its effectiveness when exposed to air.
• Add about ¼ teaspoon of chai masala per cup of tea. Moreover, if you like your tea super flavorful, increase the amount a little.
• Moreover, chai masala can be used in chai and for other recipes that are chai flavored. From chai flavored ice creams to cookies and cakes; the possibilities are endless!  
• To make 1 cup of Masala Chai, boil ¾ cup of water. Then add 1 teaspoon sugar, ¼ teaspoon chai masala and 1 teaspoon black tea powder. Bring to a boil and add ½ cup milk. Boil and transfer to a mug using a fine mesh strainer. 

The recipe was originally published in 2021, updated in 2022.

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