Saturday, January 21, 2012

Masala Chai - Masala Tea


Sometime back, when I was grocery shopping with my mother, she was looking at the ginger-flavoured Lipton tea packages. She typically only drinks green tea, apart from the regular tea. I spontaneously asked her why she wanted to buy ginger tea when she could make it at home? She then placed back the ginger tea. I suddenly felt awful for having dissuaded her and said "No, no. You buy it if you want to", to which she replied "No, it's better to make fresh ginger tea at home after all".  

 

I am actually the only one in my family who doesn't drink tea at all. Well, I do but only once in a blue moon and when I do, I always opt for flavoured teas like strawberry tea, blueberry tea or so. The idea of drinking a cuppa of warm tea is rather inviting when you have a runny nose in this harsh winter cold. So I decided to give it a shot. In addition to the ginger, I also added other spices and made a masala chai or spiced (masala) tea. I gulped down two cups of masala tea with a baguette for breakfast and quite enjoyed it. 

 
Ingredients:
1 1/2 cup water
1/2 cup milk
1 tsp black tea powder
2 cardamom pod
1 cinnamon stick
1-2 clove
1 tsp fresh chopped ginger
1 1/2 tbs honey or sugar (adjust)

Method:
Chop fresh ginger finely. Lightly crush the cardamom, cloves and cinnamon with a mortar and pestle. Add all the spices and the tea powder in a cooking pan and boil with water. Then add the honey and the milk and allow to boil for another minute, while stirring. You can use sugar instead of honey, if desired. Remove the cooking pan away from the stove and strain the tea with a tea strainer. Pour the tea into mugs or cups and serve the tea warm!

12 comments:

Unknown said...

what a beautiful picture!!!! thanks for sharing this wonderful post - Chai looks so inviting too :) cheers, Priya
PS: Do join my blog dear if you have not already - ty and have a great weekend :)

Kalyan said...

Leaves me craving for a hot sip now in the shivering cold here...nice tempting clicks!

Mahi said...

Nice clicks Rathai! Winter is depressing sometime n beautiful many times! :)

I prefer plain chai once in a blue moon, that too if somebody else is making it for me..tea podave varuthu enakku! Poor hubby always says my tea is good! ;)

Rathai's recipe said...

Thank you, Priya, Kalyan and Mahi for the heart-warming words. After the masala chai and your sweet comments, I feel like a can weather the storm now. :)

Deeps @ Naughty Curry said...

im not a big tea person but my husband can drink it all day if theres someone to make & give! hehe... this looks so inviting with the spices & all

kitchen queen said...

lovely refreshing tea.you have a nice blog.you can visit my blog and give ur valuable comments.

Rathai's recipe said...

Hi and welcome to my blog, Deeps! Yes, it was very aromatic and refreshing with all the spices.

Achu's Amma's Kitchen said...

lovely aromatic tea..

Anzz said...

You are right, a warm cuppa tea is what best warms the soul on a cold winters day. I love your mortar and pestle.. Looks cute..!

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Jayanthy Kumaran said...

great presentation with irresistable flavors..
Tasty Appetite

Santosh Bangar said...

clicks are super .tempting chai. presentation is nice.
1st time here do visit my site

Rathai's recipe said...

Thank you, everyone for visiting and commenting. It is much appreciated. And a big WELCOME to all new visitors. :)