Everyone loves chai lattes from Starbucks. “Christmas in a cup,” am I right? But chai lattes from Starbucks are about as far from authentic chai as you can get. Real chai isn’t a syrupy latte, it’s a strong black tea simmered with bold spices, milk, and just the right amount of sweetness. It’s cozy, comforting, and full of flavor in a way that no pump of syrup can replicate.
While I love Starbucks’ chai, I wanted more control over both my sugar intake and wallet outflow. Making my own at home allows me to sweeten it to my taste while keeping it closer to the authentic experience (and saves me a few bucks). Want to do the same for matcha? Check out my post HERE.
Please note, I’m writing this blog because I want to, and it reflects my true and honest opinions, but this post contains affiliate links and I may receive a small commission if you shop through them. Thank you!
What is Masala Chai?
Masala means “spice blend” in Hindi, and chai means “tea.” Together, masala chai is a spiced tea. The common spices used in traditional masala chai are cardamom, cinnamon, cloves, ginger, and black pepper. Conversely, the most commonly used tea in traditional masala chai is Assam, a bold and robust tea with a strong enough flavor to stand up to the spices and milk.
The chai lattes you get from coffee shops are delicious, sure, but they are often made using sugary syrups that don’t capture the depth of flavor from the fresh spices and strong tea. If you want more control over the flavor of your chai, and the sugar content, making authentic masala chai is a good option.
Since I have a little at-home cafe space, I like to experiment with making my own versions of cafe favorites.
How to Make Authentic Masala Chai
Chai isn’t just a drink in India, it’s a cultural ritual. It signifies hospitality, family, and community. Families often have their own secret spice blends, simmering the tea slowly with milk and sugar for the perfect balance of flavor. Chai is also a social experience. It is offered to guests, shared with neighbors, or enjoyed at bustling street stalls called chaiwallahs. Taking a moment for a cup of chai isn’t just about caffeine; it’s about slowing down, connecting with others, and savoring the warmth in every sip. It’s what I love about tea culture!
Supplies Needed
- Assam Tea Leaves
- Chai Masala Spice Mix – You can make your own by mixing together ground spices of the varieties noted above, or buy pre-made.
- Milk of your choice
- Sweetener of your choice – brown sugar, honey, maple syrup, etc.
- Water
- Strainer or Teapot with Strainer
- Stove Pot
The company Boston Chai Party specializes in authentic chai ingredients, and to make it easy, you can buy a kit that comes with assam tea, chai masala mix, and a strainer! Use my code CHAILOVER10 for 10% off your purchase of any item on their site!
Detailed Steps
1. Boil water – Take out your stove pot and bring one cup of water to a boil.
2. Add chai masala spice mix – Add 2 teaspoons of the spice mix to the boiling water and let boil for a few minutes to allow the spices to release their flavor.
3. Add Assam tea leaves – Add 3 teaspoons of Assam tea leaves and simmer for another 2-3 minutes to allow the tea to steep. Alternate Method: If you have tea bags of Assam and not loose leaf tea, you can put multiple bags in the pot to steep.
4. Add milk and optional sweetener – Pour in one cup of milk and add the sweetener of your choice. Sweeten lightly to start as you can always add more sweetener later. Bring the mixture to a simmer, making sure it doesn’t boil over.
5. Simmer some more – Let the mixture gently simmer for 2-5 minutes, depending how strong you like your chai.
6. Strain and Serve – Pour through a fine mesh strainer directly into your cup; or, pour into a teapot that has a fine mesh strainer, and then pour into your cup.
Did You Make It? / Shortcut!
Did you make this chai? Let me know what you think in the comments below! What kind of sweetener, if any, did you add and how much? It’s fun to see what people like.
Also, if you don’t want to deal with all the spices, tea leaves, and the straining, you can get this UNSWEETENED chai concentrate to more quickly make your drink. Mix with milk, sweeten to YOUR taste, and enjoy hot or iced. I may post about this in more detail later.
Printable Recipe
Masala Chai
Cook up an authentic masala chai at home!
Supplies Needed
- Assam Tea Leaves (3 tsp)
- Chai Masala spice mix (2 tsp)
- Water (1 cup)
- Milk (1 cup)
- Sweetener of your choice, to taste (brown sugar or honey recommended)
- Fine-mesh strainer
- Stove pot
Directions
- Boil 1 cup of water on the stove.
- Add chai masala spice mix and bring to a gentle boil for 2-3 minutes.
- Add Assam tea leaves and simmer for another 2-3 minutes.
- Pour in the milk and add any sweetener of your choice (you can always add more sweetener later to taste)
- Let it gently simmer for 2-5 minutes, depending how strong you like your chai.
- Pour through a fine-mesh strainer into your cup and enjoy!
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