Artificial Food Coloring Free Masala Chai
Masala chai is one of those drinks that fills the whole kitchen with warmth the moment it hits the stove ā cardamom, cinnamon, cloves, and fresh ginger all simmering together into something that smells like pure comfort. The good news for anyone avoiding synthetic dyes is that this recipe is built entirely from whole spices, real milk, and black tea, so there's nothing artificial hiding in the cup. That deep caramel color you see swirling in the mug? It comes straight from the tea and spices doing their thing ā no added coloring needed or wanted. Packaged chai mixes and bottled concentrates can be surprisingly sneaky with their ingredient lists, but making it from scratch like this puts you fully in control. The technique is simple: bloom the spices in water, steep the tea, then bring everything together with milk and a little sugar until it's silky and fragrant. Straining it into mugs at the end gives you that smooth, coffeehouse-style finish without any fuss. It's the kind of recipe you'll want to make on a slow morning and then again every morning after that.
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Learn more āIngredients
4 servings
- 8 green cardamom pods, lightly crushed
- 1 cinnamon stick (about 3 inches)
- 4 whole cloves
- 6 black peppercorns
- 1 inch fresh ginger, thinly sliced
- 1 star anise (optional)
- 2 cups water
- 3 tsp loose-leaf black tea or 3 black tea bags (such as assam or darjeeling)
- 2 cups whole milk
- 2ā3 tbsp sugar, or to taste
Instructions
- 1
Combine the cardamom pods, cinnamon stick, cloves, peppercorns, ginger, and star anise (if using) in a medium saucepan with the water. Bring to a boil over medium-high heat, then reduce the heat to medium-low and simmer for 5 minutes, until the water is fragrant and lightly tinted.
- 2
Add the black tea and simmer for 2 minutes, until the liquid is a deep amber-brown.
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