Gelatin Free Masala Chai
Warm, spiced, and deeply aromatic, this homemade chai is the kind of drink that makes you want to slow down and actually enjoy your morning. Whole spices like cardamom, cinnamon, cloves, and black pepper are simmered low and slow until the water turns fragrant and richly tinted ā that's where all the flavor lives. Fresh ginger adds a gentle heat that builds beautifully once the milk goes in, turning everything into a creamy, caramel-colored cup of comfort. Many packaged chai blends and flavored syrups sneak in unexpected additives, so brewing your own from scratch means you know exactly what's in every sip. The technique here is simple but intentional ā simmering the spices first, then the tea, then the milk ā and that layered approach is what gives this chai its full, rounded depth. A quick strain through a fine-mesh sieve and it's ready to pour, no special equipment needed. It's the kind of recipe you'll make once and then find yourself coming back to every single week.
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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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